[MUSIC] The Colts do as a team, 4-1 twice in four days. >> That's a pretty chippy game. Do you talk that up to twice in one week, or is it looking ahead maybe? >> I don't know if it was chippy, I think it's just twice in one week. Just the intensity of this time of year, you know, and they're at the top of the standings year after year for a reason. >> They're concerned, given that their potential first round playoff match of what's happened this week. >> No, there's no concern about that. I mean, whoever we play in the first round playoffs, we'll be ready to go. What happens now? Obviously, you want to build your game, you want to get going in the right direction. But we're a month away, there's still lots to improve upon. Lots of runway left in the season, so we're gonna look to get our game in a good spot. So when playoffs do start, we're ready to go. [MUSIC] >> Fan Morning Joe Sportsnet 5.9 of the fan, Ben and his friend, Gunning, NHL Trade Deadline Day, 3 o'clock this afternoon, the broadcast on the TV side, starting at 10 o'clock, so less than two hours here now is the Toronto Maple Leafs swept away in the season series by the Boston Bruins yesterday, you may have been noticed. Hasn't gone so well. People have been talking about it. Yeah, they did pick up a couple of overtime losses, so two points against the Bruins. But this week, a couple of 4-1 regulation losses, and all of a sudden, the Bruins find themselves just a point back of the Panthers for first in the Atlantic Division. Now, the Panthers do have a game in hand on the Bruins. Leafs find themselves well entrenched in third in the Atlantic Division. Bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff standings looks very interesting now. All of a sudden, after the Lightning's loss yesterday, the Islanders win over the Sharks. They're only two points back, the Islanders are the Lightning, and they have two games in hand, and they've won five consecutive, so that's curious. Real, real interesting, also four points back of the Flyers for third in the Metro, so the Islanders coming on strong. But yeah, as far as the Atlantic Division is concerned, so regular season, going back to last year, it's not gone so well. Seven consecutive losses, Leafs to the Bruins, and I understand, Leafs also lost in five games to the Florida Panthers last season, in the postseason, this regular season, they played a lot closer than the Bruins. Is there any argument to be made that you'd prefer the team at the top of the NHL standings over the Bruins? I think picking playoff matchups is such a folly. I think both of those teams check a lot of very similar boxes, so I really think if Boston goes on a surge and passes Florida, I think if I'm Florida, and as fine as you're going to be, that's all a nightmare. They're both really physical, nasty mean teams who are mean to the Leafs, quite honestly, except last night. All right, time now for our insider, brought to you by Don Valley, North Lexus, where you can expect excellence online, and in the showroom, visit DonValleyNorthlexus.com. Today's insider is the insider. It's Elliot Friedman, 32 thoughts on his way into the Sportsnet studios after what? A couple hours of sleep. What's going on, buddy? It's actually not too bad, I have to say, I got about five and a half last night, which isn't too bad at this time of year. Yeah, similar. You and I, similar, except here's the thing, after nine o'clock, I go home and I take a little nappy boom, I'm going to wake up, I'm going to wake up on the couch to you breaking something to me at about, like, I don't know, I'm just going to put a timestamp on it, like 1045. That's like what I think is going to happen today. I'm going to have a lovely nap after this, and your day is just getting going. So sorry to rub salt in the wound there, Fridge. It's OK, guys. I can handle it in a big bowl. I know you are. I know. When we get started on what could come ahead today, I do just want to get your perspective on the big deal that happened last night. Gunsell goes to the hurricanes, makes a ton of sense for them. Going back to the penguin side, 25% retained, conditional first, conditional fifth, and a few younger players, but Michael Bunting, the roster player of note. Are you surprised that that's the route the return took? Are you surprised it wasn't a little more prospect oriented and not getting a first? I know a lot of people have had a problem with that, although it's a conditional one. It's a pretty hefty condition. What did you make of that deal that we saw late last night? Well, you know, I'll say this. I don't know the kids enough, but really, like this is one thing I always say. I'm not married to a group of law firms. I don't watch these kids at home. They know these guys a lot better than I do, but I will. I'm not surprised. It's not a guaranteed service with all of those prospects, like that's a lot of prospects. And all of them, all of them have a chance, from what I understand. So, and the other thing too is guys, one thing I'm finding out about the draft is that there are a lot of things right now who feel that the drop this year drops off after about 20, and you'd rather take a little bit more of a total of that with prospects than someone who's in those 20 plots in this year's draft. We've seen that a couple of times now. Calgary did that with the granted deal, so this is not really a huge surprise to do that. It's also said that we want to just actually look closer to being ready to play. That should change year. And the other thing about bunting is, bunting is on the trade block earlier in the year. Pitchford was interested. We all know it's history. I'm not surprised that he would go back there, but also gives them a play we can play now. I mean, Pitchford was really, really sad last night. So I'm not surprised they mentioned that. I would say that there's a lot of technology there. We're going to find out over the years how the 20 years. But we just got a lot of cities that we wanted. And he's got multiple chances here to hold one of these kids' sticks and shows it was totally worth it. I'll tell you the other thing too is, I think it's a both-time Carolina gamble on our right side. I don't know if this will run me any extension. But going on another gamble on numbers of this kind of a place, it was time for them. They can win the Stanley Cup and they need a score. Yeah, absolutely. If they get the gold-timing, they can absolutely win the Stanley Cup. So we saw the Leafs with a couple of disappointing regulation losses to the Bruins this week. I don't know if that paints a different picture as far as Bradford Living's willingness to move extra pieces before 3 o'clock this afternoon. I have a pretty good indication that if they're without Matthew Nye's for a significant period of time, and God forbid, an injury that takes him out into the playoffs would maybe impact things. We don't know Sheldon Keefe had no immediate answer as far as his health after running into Brad Marshland yesterday in the game. If Matthew Nye's is out, what do you think that does as far as changing the plan for Bradford Living before 3 o'clock? Well, I think the Nye was out until, first of all, I hope he's all right, as you said. But if he is out, I mean, it's two very different things. If he's out just until the playoffs start, and he gives him more flexibility to do some other things potentially, if he's out into the playoffs, that's really, really bad. He's an important player for them. I think in general, first of all, I think there were a lot of Leafs fans who saw that. I know they lost to Boston, but there was a lot of message sending for the first round last night, and there were a lot of people I saw who enjoyed it. It was pretty entertaining to watch from just a physical point of view. I still think they're looking for his right hand shot B. They acquired Edmondson the other day. He's a lefty, although he has played the right side before. I think they continue to do that. I think the other thing they continue to look for is, like, I've got forward and, like, the Nick Dowd mode, you know, I thought, Trennan, who was traded yesterday from Nashville to Colorado, was another one of those players, who was kind of on Toronto's radar. So those are the kinds of things I still think they're looking for. We'll see today, well, but afterwards, I don't know if it's a general full-up beat on Knives. I'll probably start checking into it after this, but I would just simply say that they probably stick to the plan of what they're looking for, and the last night they've been doing a situation where they say, like, they've done a replacement of you, because he's going to be out for all. Yeah, even like another deal that got made late last night with the lightning picking up to Claire, like, I don't know if the Leafs would have had any interest in him, but it's like that kind of player. If you do feel like the winger, if Knives is going to miss some time here and you feel like you need the winger, I even wonder if a guy like that would have made some sense. You've mentioned right shot D or defenseman in general, you can never have too many bodies at this time of year, but we said that last year and the Leafs still traded out defenseman at the deadline. I don't think they'll necessarily be able to replicate the Rasmus Indian trade or if they'd want to with Timothy Lillegrim, but can you see a world where he has moved? I mean, he's kind of getting not full-blown, but we're treading to, like, Jake Gardner's status of he's the whipping boy du jour in this market. Do you think he could be in play today in a trade for maybe a kind of older defenseman with a team on a different timeline than the Leafs, or what do you make of them potentially sending a body out as well as bringing in bodies? I think it's possible and I don't think it's like, here, I know this is going to, I'm going to radio myself here, but I don't think it's impossible that a guy would move into a good trade. But I'm not guaranteeing it either. I think this, I think they've got, like, where GM is a guy who thinks about a lot of different things. But one thing I'll say about Lillegrim is when Riley was out this year, recently, he played really well. I thought he played really well. And the one thing about Toronto this season is the injuries on the fence and what happened on the fence, they can't stay healthy. And you know, I, the one thing I think you have to be really careful of is the way I saw him play when Riley went down, that was some of the best costly I've seen in play. I think he's got to be really careful about what you're doing on your blue line, considering some of the things that have happened to that this year. So I understand that everybody gets on someone and I don't think it's impossible they could do something like that. I, you know, I think like a lot of, I think the leaves have discussed a lot of things that I don't think I would be surprised at all if he was in them. But I watched the way he played when Riley was out and I'd be like, you know what, in the short term, I'd be really careful with that. Yeah, no doubt. Yeah, he's, he shoots with the right hand and you're certainly going to need more than six defencemen as you go through the postseason, Brad for living knows that as well. It feels like, yeah, Tyler Tofoli still is, is out there and he's a guy that's going to be moved as a guy with who's appending free agent. There's another couple of guys who don't have to be moved, but could be real headline items today and the Jacob Markstrom story still hangs in the balance, how, how, how likely is it that we see like an actual, like getting, I wouldn't say that Markstrom's like a surprise name to be moved today, but a guy that doesn't, again, doesn't have to be moved. David Savard, a guy that is under contract for, for next season as well, like what is the likelihood we see a bigger deadline day than, than the, than just the, the, the Tofoli's of the world, the Dumbas of the world? Well, I think, I, I think Markstrom was trying to play last night and it seems to me that it probably won't happen. That's the way I kind of look at that one. I, I really think Calgary would like to hold and to, and, and deal with this in the summer. Now that doesn't mean it can't happen, but I think that's kind of where I stand with that one right now. Um, the, the other one you mentioned, uh, sorry, who was the other one you mentioned there? I don't know. Did I mention another one? Tofoli Tofoli, yeah, well, Tofoli's going to go, right? Tofoli Tofoli is, um, yes, he's going to go and I think there's a lot of interest from him. Like I think the teams that lost out on Gensil, like Vegas, Florida, um, you know, uh, Vegas, Florida Rangers, although that's a hard one to do, Rangers, Douglas is not easy. I know LA would really like them. I'm sure he would like to go there, but the problem is LA is really, really stuck on gas. They didn't want to rally Smith too, and they found it a very difficult to do it. So that's the issue with LA. I've heard Winnipeg likes Tofoli, and that I think he'd be a perfect fit for them. I don't know the likelihood, but I've heard that they like him. Um, so that's another team to keep an eye on there. Um, you know, the fence men, I, I think there could be a, I think there's going to be basically everyone's deciding what's the best price. Like the other night with Edmondson, Washington basically said, we're going to trade him. What's the best rock pick we can get? And Toronto made the best offer. So I think that's where everything's going to kind of go today. Yeah. One other, one other player of the guys who were under contract for next year that it feels like, again, doesn't have to be moved today, but, you know, correct me if I'm wrong. I don't know that the sharks are turning it around for next year is Grandlin, you know, they do. I just checked. They do have the one still retained salary slot. I believe. I think that that's a guy that they look at taking retention on and that allows him to be moved today. Cause otherwise, I mean, we just know that the cat math of these things hard for anybody of note to fit five million bucks in. Could you see him being in play? I have kind of wondered, I heard people wondering aloud about how he would be maybe that. And again, it goes back to the nice injury of it all. If you do have a need at forward spot, I wonder if the Lisa may be potential kick tires. Where, where are we out on the market for Grandlin? Well, I think there's definitely been talk about him. I think the only Grandlin and Ferrari there, both of them go out turn, but the prices are at prices high. Guys are in turn. The prices are higher. So I think it comes down to what you're willing to pay. Like the same goes for the Toronto. And now the docs, they can't retain salary. They filled up all their slots. So if you're trading for the Toronto, you're trading for full numbers. And I've heard the prices on those kinds of players have been very high. Last one. It's the same kind of thing. I imagine you'll give me a similar answer, but he's a name that I know people be thinking about today. Butch Navalch. And again, it is tied Toronto. What about the Leafs? The Nye's injury of it all. Do you think it's going to remain sky sky high for him? What would you put the percentage chance somebody like him or not somebody him specifically is dealt today? 5050. Wow. This is good day. This is like this is the day like this is like this is all poker. You play cards? Yeah. Terribly. Although I beat that poker one. I'm scared about that. Is that true? Yeah, it is. Wow. You came in and had an awful, awful game. I'll tell you the story. It was over so quickly. It was over so quickly. You know, seminal moment in your life. No, we all actually, if you must know, there was, there were like five or six of us having a poker night hosted by like former fan employee Andrew Walker. You came in late and you were out in about five minutes because I feel like you were bored. That's what happened there. So yes, we both play poker terribly. I will speak to myself. I'll tell you the story of the of the coach I bought at my house after a card game, Steve Cooley as well. Oh, summertime. We're coming back. But oh, like this is all poker, like that's what this is. It's you set a price like it's like we all write it. We all say it in this business. We all talk about how, you know, there's the prices are high or we're not trading this guy. Like last week, Tyler, last year Tyler Bertuzzi was off the market one week and traded the next week. Tyler Tofoli, remember last week, like the other day, Tom Fitzgerald, like we're not shopping him and now they're shopping things change. So with the guys like Pooch Davis, they said a really high price, basically, like someone said to me, it's they're asking like the equivalent of three first routers, okay. So so it's like something like that. So now we're hearing, oh, they might take 50%. So it all comes down to on this day and age, you know, on this day, the poker players start to show their real hands. And we'll find out today what the price really is. If it's that or if it's something different, and if anyone's willing to pay it. So I think there's definitely interest in Pooch Navech. Are you willing to pay the price? Or do you think that Doug Armstrong changes his mind on what he's asking? That's where we are. Unfortunately for the Leafs, it feels like they're holding two seven off suit. You guys are such people are such pessimists. No, we'll see. Like the one the one the one the one thing I think about this year's leaf peen is like, I've been saying all year long. I don't know if this is the team that I would risk my futures on and generally they seem to agree. But this year, they have been better than some of their parts and they have done pretty well considering the gong show their net and and defense has been at times. Like I think this year's team has really played hard and really overcome a lot of weirdness. So like I like I understand why they look at it and say we've got to try to reward some of these guys. Yeah. No, so do I. I mean the assets they have to send out the door and you're talking about the limited prospects that look like NHL caliber players at the top of that pool. It's yeah, they don't have any second round picks and okay, you know, send another first out the door. Pooch Navech is least is under contract for next season. So it's a different deal there. Obviously an impact player anyways, I don't want to take any more of your time, Elliot. Big day for you, buddy. Thanks for doing this. All right guys. Take care. All right. To Elliot Friedman, 32 thoughts, the insider and that insider again, the insider brought to you by Don Valley, North Lexus, where you can expect excellence online and in the showroom, visit Don Valley, North Lexus dot com. The end part of that I agreed wholeheartedly. And the the isolation and discussion we've had about this Leafs team and don't let like two games against the Bruins get it twisted for you. I mean, there was also the hey, the Rangers at times the season have been at the very tippy top of the NHL standings. That's the snow slouch team that they beat, albeit in a shootout on Saturday, but whatever. Yeah, and they've beaten the Panthers this season. They were the team that ended the Kings being good. Remember? Right. Dude, then the least beat them in my week and a half later, McClellan was fired. They also I might be slightly off on that, but I do. That's my memory of it. And I'm just going to stick with that. I mean, how long the season is. I also remember that Kings team coming into Toronto and just shotting the Leafs down and being like, Oh, well, that's and it King's team, that's you got to view them as one of the cup contenders, the way they filled the know can just smother you. Anyways, how's that going? I mean, to be clear, like Philip, you know, yeah, he wanted me to play off series. Yeah. You know, this team deserve like they have, I don't know, exceed expectations is hard because the expectations are always to be like presidents trophy, like they have a 70 goal score. And so like anywhere short of being the best team in the NHL is not exceeding expectations. Okay. But all right. Considering the goaltending uncertainty, considering the like acclimating a couple of new players, they're not off to very rocky starts and understanding what their positions were within this team, having a guy that you expected to play in your top four as much as that was ill conceived. But like, yeah, John Klingberg was supposed to play a significant role on this team being abysmal and then gone. All those things. And then, you know, Timothy, little grin out for a significant portion of time. And now, yeah, people are envisioning the books. Good. Yeah. And I want to be clear, I'm not even part of that camp, but I feel like I need to bring voice to it. I miss and Morgan Riley for five, anyways, just like in an overall sense, I think it's been a positive season and one in which you would all things being equal, want to reward those players. Now, that being said, twofold thing available players assets you have. I don't think it's going to happen. But yeah, the mentality that Ellie talks about that this organization should operate with agree a wholeheartedly, at least they showed, you know, give a damn yesterday in Boston. Well, and I know that this isn't the way you operate. But we, you have to kind of make a decision with the first round pick. I think this is the prevailing thought I have in the first round pick heading into today, is that you have to make a decision, is that how long is this thing going? Is it as long as Austin Matthews contract? Is it as long as William Nielanders? And how likely is that first round pick to help you? Because if the draft is as bad as we all think it is, and I don't think anything about it. So I just think what Jason Bookel and Sammy Cause and everybody tells me to think. And they all agree. It's terrible. Wherever however you feel about the Leafs, wherever they're going to be picking in this year's draft, it's not going to be this kind of blue chip, phrase or mint, and even type prospect that you're going to move on from. So I'm not saying you have to sell it. You have to move on from it. But it's entirely possible we're having this conversation next year. And the dream of it is the prospect is turning into Easton Cowan. And now you have another chip. That's probably not going to happen. It's probably going to be a chip more along the lines of probably not even a Frasier-Minton type guy. So I'm not saying you have to move it, but I don't know that you need to be as pearl clutchy to hold on to it as I feel like some people have been, no, it's, it's said, but the problem is, is that for David's of art, no, no, no, no, not a bitch. Now we're talking. There's no question, but it's plus plus, plus, as we said, they're looking for three of those, the equivalent to three of those, at least they're looking for that right now. Yeah. And we'll see. I mean, there's a guy who's under contract for what? More than five for this year and next. The thing about a Booch-Navage trade, which like, who knows, it could happen, is if it does, it's, it is a very like Ying and Yang moment for least nation of, whoa, they made a big swing. They got the guy that also to me does tell me how hurt Matthew Nises. If they don't say anything and I see a trade for a impact winger, not a guy, but an impact winger, that to me tells me that they think Nises banged up for, for considerable time. Well, and it's good. Maybe I'm wrong to think that way. But no, and it's a good point that the Leafs aren't going to tip their hand to the rest of the NHL. We're not going to hear a Matthew Nise injury update until after like three o'clock. Prove me wrong. Good luck. Yeah. You're not going to indicate to the rest of the hockey world that, yeah, hey, guess what? We're up against it because Matthew Nise has a concussion again. Well, and also, and not that I think this goes into play with it because I don't think there's going to be like even like a fine for March on maiming and killing Matthew Nise in that game. But there's a reason Ridley Grigg wasn't seen or heard from until Morgan Riley's thing got adjudicated and it's because you want to just leave that up in the air. Like, I don't think that's a part and parcel of it, but it's kind of part and parcel of it as well. Generally speaking, it's not right away. Oh, he's totally healthy. That was fine. That was a nothing play. We almost never get that even if that's the case for the player, especially with the being an off day today. Yeah, it's weird. I mean, Brad for Living's deadline history also would indicate that this is not a guy that historically has taken huge swing save for a couple of years ago with the Tyler Tafoli deal bringing him into Calgary. But there's just such a, you said it. What's the floor for? What were the floor for those flames teams versus this one now? And I don't want to begrudge the flames teams he built. Brad's living built some really nice flames teams, but it was never copper bus because Guy X is here. Maybe they felt that way at the very, very tail M with kachok when he was on his way out. But it's never been. We have to take it. Sorry, Johnny Goudreau. It's never been. We have to push all in to take advantage of Johnny Goudreau's prime. When are you ever going to see a player like this and your franchise's history? There's just a different impetus when you have a core like this versus the one he had in Calgary. And again, maybe the core wasn't involved physically yesterday, but there were a bunch of players and core adjacent. Yeah. Yeah. Like the part of the core from there, I was going to say it's like you take the bite of the apple. Sometimes you're like, mmm, I went a little too close. Yeah. And a couple of Brad for living editions. Brad for living certainly has a type and I think his type is someone texting me as a big man. King is what they told me. Sure on the blue line. But yeah, as far as the guys that he acquired in the off season in Bertuzzi and Domia was off as first guys and they're not perfect players, especially in the run zone, but they like getting that from them yesterday is something that Brad for living very much envisioned when he made those moves. They know how to hate. Yeah. And honestly, in hockey, it's a beautiful thing. It is. We'll see how it pans out in the postseason, but yesterday at least accounted for an entertaining 60 minute hockey game. I wonder what we'll talk about with Luke Gazdick that he's coming up next for said analysts as we head towards the deadline at three o'clock today. It's fan morning show, Ben Anis, Brent Gunning, Sportsnet 590, the fan. Diving deep into leaps, rafters, J's, and NFL, the JD Bunken podcast, subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. These two games this week, what have they done so well to make you guys offensively? It's a good question. They're really sound. I mean, all five guys on the ice are pretty lofty other and they don't give you much. They track hard. They got to give them credit, but I think we're looking forward to finding the future and we're going to do it with these guys. How do you feel your team stacks up against the Bruins that you mentioned potentially down the road? Hey. They beat us in the regular season, so like I said, you've got to pick your cap to them, but I mean, who knows what the future has in store, but if we do play them again, we're ready to go. Would you like to see the more of that physicality that you guys showed tonight? Definitely something we've talked about and we're working on and I think everyone's doing their part. I'm compressing my heart marsh and there's that about the play that knocked Niza in your mind. No, we could candor that one. Good morning. Show sports at 5.9 in the fan, Ben Eddiss, Brian Gunning in the NHL tread deadline coming your way at three o'clock Eastern time this afternoon and maybe a big trade to come and what a present that would be for hockey fans everywhere. But for us in the immediacy, the president or the president is the president, I guess, of the panel, once that's a Luke Gasek in person. You were going to take a call on the other side of the wall and be on the phone with us. What? Yeah. No, great to see you. And I rang you. I said, yeah, you wrangled me over that. I was going to do it in the hallway, but they were blasting Bruno Mars in the cafe. I was walking around looking for a spot to do this and ran into you. So I'm glad to sit down. Yeah. I don't see you guys. We actually have a nice spot. We have a nice spot. It's called the radio studio. And we're sitting in it now. Honestly, I, you know, we're saying this in the break. I have loved our chats all year long. So yeah, awesome to awesome to get you in studio and put you to work before you have like a ton of work to do. Yeah. It's going to be a long day, guys. I have to get out of there, too. It's a bit of a gong show down there already. So it's nice to sneak away for a bit. Yeah. So the broadcaster, it's a 10 o'clock. The deadline's at three o'clock. And the broadcast ends at what time? Luke. Five. Oh. Which I would just be aware of. I actually thought it was. It's not when the deadline ends. But it hits. We get to leave. It's like a twin stone like the whistle blowing right down the bronchosaurus neck and out the door. No, no, no, an extra two hours to break some more stuff down. All right. Happy to be a part of it. Yeah. No, we'll be watching nonstop. I love it. And then I go back into our naps, though. Well, I take the whole thing starting at 10 o'clock and then I rewatch it. So yeah, no, I'll be I'll be glued to it. Anyways, we'll talk about the deadline stuff and maybe just a second. There's a lot to take from that leaf brewing game yesterday at the garden and I know you're paying attention to the oiler game as well. And the disappointing pre deadline exhibition for for the Oilers, disappointing pre deadline exhibition scoreboard wise for the Maple Leafs. But I guess some positives to take away that at least there was some physical pushback there and starts with Jake McCabe just, you know, out of nowhere, taking some context. Yeah, which I was at listen, I did just a straw poll on Twitter. Hey, how many leaf fans out there would just give up a first period goal for a chance to cross check Brad March on? You're not going to believe the responses I got that people actually, yeah, they thought that was a pretty good exchange. I saw many people saying I'd forfeit the game and the many that went beyond that. But yeah, what did you make of there being at least a physical pushback from this leaf steam? Yeah, I love that. I mean, if you're going to go down, go down swinging and I like the way Jake McCabe plays not just last night, but he kind of brings that physicality and edge all the time and is good mean face. Yeah, he really does. He's a tough kind of play against and even like, even Max going after McEloy late, like I don't mind that at all, too, at least you show a little fight. March on can bring that out in you can bring that out in almost anyone. And yeah, it wasn't, it wasn't the greatest game for them. But I love that they're showing a, you know, a little bit of fight, a little bit of snarl. Well, and that's the thing, right? I don't think it's about what it does to Boston. Like, I don't think Brad March on's walking in that room. Oh man, the Leafs are finally tough. What are we going to do? But it's about what it does to your room, right? I mean, we remember the referendum that was had earlier in this year when Brad March on of all people, of course it was him had the shot on little grin and he ends up getting hurt there. I just think it means so much. It's not even about what it means to Boston or if they notice it or care at all, but it's about your group. And the other thing we've kind of been talking about today is that unlike Leaf teams in the past where, you know, and I don't say this is a shot at Luc Chen, he was incredibly important, but, you know, he was on the pecking order where he was on this team to have two thirds of your second line being the guys who are doing it and Bertuzzi and Domi, like, what does it mean that it's not just somebody on the team doing it, but it's guys that really truly matter in a big, big way? Yeah, I think that's a good point because on most of the teams I played on, all a couple of them I would say, like I was primarily the guy who went out and did that. And I think that falls on Ryan Reeves a little bit. And I think that's a tough part of having kind of a tougher guy on your team is everyone thinks like it's up to him and it's his responsibility to scare and intimidate the opposition when the toughest thing to do and the best thing to do is for your whole team to play tough and to have that kind of together mentality. That's what I love about the Florida Panthers is if one guy gets touched, it's five in the fight and it doesn't matter if they're first line guy or a bottom tier defenseman, whatever it is, everyone's in there. So you're right. It's second line. It's guys like domes and Bert drop in the gloves last night. It's got to be everyone. I always felt that much better when I was on the team and it wasn't solely my responsibility to instill fear and, you know, send a message to another team, I always felt better when I had a little backup. Yeah. That's part of what they were expected to bring to this team when they were acquired in the off season. Bertuzzi and Domi. I mean, yeah, it's not a part of Austin Matthews or Mitch Marner or William Nielanders and to a lesser extent, John Tavares is game either. But yeah, I guess that those guys are, at least on the second line, is more an indication that this team has it in it. Joe Wall has lost three of the four games, the Leafs have lost to the Bruins this season, allowing four goals in each of those games and he's coming off the injury and, you know, it's hard to fault them on a five on three goal where nobody has a chance and then the other power play goal and then a breakaway. And then the fourth goal, I think we can all agree, is not a great goal, but like besides that individual game, like when we're projecting to potential starters in a postseason series between these two teams, is there something to the Bruins seeing that guy and knowing the success that they've had recently against him and that being part of the decision making that Sheldon Keef has is to, if it's like one or the other and maybe the play down the stretch will just dictate who's starting in game one of a postseason series either way. Like does the recent history impact anything? No, I think it's just going to be down the stretch here. This is a great opportunity for both of these guys to show that they want to be the starter. And I just, since Joe Wall has come back, he hasn't played his best hockey. I think you're bang on last night in the sense that I don't really look at the score, the shots too much. I always watch the highlights first and make sure you see the quality of goals that are scored and backdoor to pass or knock on the five on three, no chance. But then the Carlo goal late and even the breakaway, like I understand the breakaway, it's, you know, not the easiest thing for a goalie, but big goalies make big saves, right? And sometimes when you're on the bench, you just need a big save on a breakaway. William Neelander was like, had his fingers crossed, he's like, come on, just make the same place. He's the last man back, the most egregious turnover I've seen in a while. But yeah, I think this is a really good opportunity for both these guys to show that they want that job. And I for a long time thought it was going to be Joe wall, but Sammy's played some good hockey lately too. It's really good chance for, for both guys, to be honest. Yeah, I, I was very much in the camp that I thought it was going to be wall. And the biggest reason I thought that is I just listened to the team talk about their goalies. And it's pretty clear who they wanted to be in that spot. But if Samson off keeps performing this way, I don't know how you can, how you can kind of look, look past him, you know, in terms of what they've done so far, they get Edmondson. That, that's an interesting ads guy who's won, he's been, been on cup teams before. He's played deep into the playoffs. And he's nasty. And he talked about how much you wanted to be in that game last night. You like that type of ad. You want more of that? Do you think that's enough? Where are you Adam? What they've done so far? I like the ad. Anytime you can add a Stanley Cup winner and veteran like that to your lineup, it's a good thing. It makes them heavy on the left side. I thought they needed another right handed shot to you. Obviously it's not done. We have the data to see what happens. But playing your off side in any position in the NHL is very hard. Whether you're a forward and you're playing the wing or your defense, but then you're playing your right side. Let's say I was a left shot, you're playing your right side. Everything is on your backhand. Everything is in your peripherals. It's like as a winger, it's, it was an, it's a nightmare. You have to be a very special player to be able to do that and be effective at it. Sticks in the middle. Exactly. Like Leon Drey said, oh man, like, I know I talk Oilers, hockey, law, there's a reason he can play the right side. He loves the game on his backhand, but not everybody can do it. And TJ Brody, I, you know, good veteran, he's been, you know, getting it pretty, pretty hard lately for his play, but if you put him back on a strong side, I think he's much better player. Well, you have seen that, right? Like they've tried to do that, especially once they bring Bush in and it allows them to kind of play that role and it is kind of remarkable what, how much a better version we've seen of Brody kind of even going back to the playoffs last year when he is on his natural side. That's, it's much easier to make plays, especially under pressure going back for pucks. So I thought that we're going to add to the right side. Maybe they still will, but now even with knives, not sure what's happening with knives. I expect a forward to be added, not a huge piece, but a bottom six step forward, I would almost 100% expect that they pick up today. Players perspective on the Martian hit on, on knives or the collision, the collision between Brad Martian and Matthew Nye's. You know what, the NHL happens so fast, like plays happen so fast and in real time, it doesn't look great, but where there's smoke, there's fire. Yeah. That was, you know, if that's Jake Dabrowsk, you're like, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. But when it's Brad Martian, you don't ever give him the benefit of the doubt. So it's like, I watch it back, I watch the first time. I'm like, Oh, collision. Second time you're like a little slow, you're like, Oh, collision. And by the third, fourth time I watch it, I'm like straight straight straight. He looks like an alpine skier going in the mobile's way. He's got his knees crout, ready to explode into that thing. And I don't know, man, the game happened fast for me, but it's a little slower for those guys. And I don't know, it's, it's, you can, you can really never give those guys the benefit. Yeah. I'm with you. Yeah. He's the most spend to play in league history. Like, yeah, it's just, there's no, there's nobody who deserves it. Last, I mean, there may have been guys in the past like Matt Cook, shout out to him. But now right now, Brad Marchont wearing the belt for the guy who deserves the benefit of doubt. Lee, she mentioned you don't think it'll be a huge move. If it's a forward, I bet that guy will be huge though. Brad your living has a type. He likes big beefy hockey players. It's just a departure from what we've seen. And, you know, I sometimes think that's overstated. Cal Dubas traded for Noel Chari and Ronald Riley and Luke Shen at the deadline. So it's not as though he never did that, but it's pretty, pretty clear that this type believes team. Not to say there won't be skill around. I mean, Matthew's, Martin, all those guys are still poking, but it's, it's pretty clear to living as a type, eh? Does he ever? And I think that's kind of what they need up front too. Like we talked about how Domi and Bert have been playing a little bit at physical, but they can use some size like Jakov Trenen that went to Colorado yesterday, 171 hits for him. That's a guy that I'd probably love to slot in on a third fourth line left wing. I know Scottie Lawton plays center, but he's a Toronto guy can play wing. He plays gritty. That's the Oakville guy. Come on. Yeah, maybe a Toba code to be or whatever, but that's, that's the type of player that I'd want in there. Someone with a little grit. Sammy Carrick, who went to Edmonton yesterday was a former Marley player, someone like that in your bottom six. That's going to give you some compete. And that is a blueprint that, that Brad wants and just, you can never use enough of that. Especially if you're going to play Boston or Florida, take as much as you can. Yeah. It's hard to imagine exactly where the fit is, right? Like we've done a lot of discussion about the Max Domi second line center thing and whether that works in the post season, you obviously want Max Domi playing a pretty significant role in, in your post season, not just for the offense that he provides, but because of some of the stuff that we saw yesterday, especially if it's against the Bruins, like what if you're supplanting him as your second, second line center? Like where, where does, where does he fit in on this team? If you're doing that, that's a good question. Max is, if they want to have any success, if this leaves team wants to have any success, he's got to be a big part of it. And I think that means he's higher up the lineup. Like I talked about playing your off side in the NHL, playing the middle of the ice in the NHL. It includes a lot of responsibility on both sides of the puck. And that's one area that I think he knows he can be better out as well is on the D side of the puck. I think with Max, the further we get into this thing, the better he's going to get. I think he's a gamer. It's taken. We've seen it already. He's gotten better as he sees it. Yeah. And in this thing, I think the more you're going to get from Max, but he has to have a lot of responsibility as well. It's like the chicken or the egg thing. I think they have to give him, give him, you know, a good amount of leash here. And I think the higher up the lineup, the better for him in terms of, you know, his responsibility. I just think the tougher the game gets, the better he's going to be. Well, and I think you nailed it with him needing responsibility. The lesser version of Max told me we saw this year was when he was on the wing. He moved him to center and at first was in a third line role and you saw him take a little bit of a leap and all of a sudden he's getting, you know, top six minutes. The minute time goes up and all of a sudden you see it. So I know there are going to be people and we won't get news on this today because why would the Leafs, you know, handicap their position? But if we, if we were to find out that Nise is going to miss some time, you would see people saying, go get a center, pop Domi over to the wing. And that feels natural to me, but I've seen Domi play wing on this team. And I didn't like it. I think he has to play center to, to be effective on this group, just given what we've seen out of them this year. Yeah. Some guys just have to be more engaged, right? And have a little more responsibility in their game. It'll be interesting to see what happens here with Nise, but I think this is a good thing that they actually have some options. You can shuffle some guys around. That's why I think if they do or when they do bring in a guy, bring in someone that's a little bit versatile that can play maybe a little center, maybe a little wing that can give you some options. It's the old Babcock got to play in center, the deeper the better here as they go down the stretch. We talked a lot about chemistry and not trying to upset the apple cart and that was more like when the Leafs were winning what seven consecutive games and not when they were losing twice in regulation to the Bruins in a week. So maybe maybe that conversation's over, but like in that locker room, do you think that conversation is happening like, hey, be nice to get additions, I guess, as guys that can help in backfill if there's an injury. But hey, we kind of like the way we've been playing. We like the group that we've got right now and obviously the Nise injury impacts that. Like, what is that discussion do you think inside that Leafs dressing room that, hey, I know it's the deadline and we're trying to win a cup here, but we like this group. Yeah. And I mean, it says a lot, right? Guys always say the players dictate, the players will dictate on what the GM does. And to be honest, yeah, Labushkin, Edmondson, but I think they've earned more. And you know what, it's tough to say what Brad's going to do, but I think they've earned a nice addition here and they definitely need it. I think that's what I'd be thinking about as a player. I always try to put myself in the chair and in the dressing room and think, you know, we're coming down the stretch here. It sends a big message to the guys, it's, it's, I look at a situation like an Edmonton or like a Colorado when you get your GM to go to bat for you and you bring in a couple guys and you're thinking, okay, here we go, like it's, it's go time. And at the end of the day, I think they've earned it. Yeah. Different players feel differently about it. Like maybe Noah Greger's like, oh, I don't know that we need a forward in here. Well, it's off the Matthews is saying, yes, no, there's no forward that you can bring in that worries me about my position. Yeah. The little grin is the guy that I'm thinking about, right? Like a guy that's had an elevated role at times with the, with this team and Elliott Friedman rightly pointing out the time without Morgan Riley for those five games and him playing alongside TJ Brody and looking pretty good. But the penalty kill needing a boost and, and, and whether already he might be on the outside, looking in with the addition of Edmondson, like he would be a guy, I'd be, I'd be wondering where his mentality is at and maybe as a guy that maybe sent out the door before three o'clock today. Yeah. But that's what makes a good pro too. I think bringing in guys creates great internal competition and forces everybody to be better and be their best. It does put a little more pressure on guys, but you know you're going to get guys best down the line here when every game is almost an audition for them and I understand he's a veteran, but it pushes everybody down the depth chart just a bit and forces them to play their best hockey. And I think that's a really good thing for hockey teams is to have guys not feeling so complacent and so comfortable all the time, especially this late in the season have guys competing for your spot in the lineup a little bit, have to earn it, right? It's, it's every game's a bit of a tryout. I was going to say we often think about that with like the 10th through 13th forward or the four or sorry, the five through seven defensemen, but hasn't that kind of happened for the forwards this year? And like the ones that matter like Bertuzzi and Domi and Tavares all of a sudden, I don't think they necessarily view it that way, but there is a little internal competition for not minutes because they're both going to get burned. But who's the second line? Who's the third line? How are you used? So yeah, I'm, I'm with you there. Do you have anything else on leafs or did you, I'm, you could, if I move on, but you can move on. We have like four minutes left. I know. That's another question. You, you cover a lot of oils, uh, oilers, Enric, Carrick love the moves. I saw that pick and I saw that trade and I said, hmm, would have been okay if the Leafs did that one. We'll see what ends up happening. Do you think that's enough for Edmonton seems like they're probably done? Uh, was there something else you thought they may be needed? No, I thought they did a great job. I think the Edmonton Oilers got better. I talked about bringing in versatile guys, two guys that can play center on the wing. Sammy Carrick mostly center ice, but he gives you some grit. He gives you a lot of compete. And you got a veteran in Adam and reek that, like I said, can play center, can play the wing, gives you 15 to 20 minutes a night, sound professional guy, both great in the locker room. I didn't even choice that you're on the back end too. I don't mind that depth out on the back end at all. I still think they need one, maybe one more, but, uh, I like the job that can be one more. It's always one more. Uh, I like the job that Kenny Holland did though. I think there's another team that got sent a message that, hey, you earned a couple of great pickups. They didn't have to give up a ton. I know they gave up a first rounder, but, uh, I would craft shop. They gave that up. And Jay Woodcroft. Yeah. But, um, even though even go back to bringing in Corey Perry, like they, they made some great additions and if they can get some saves, that's going to be a scary team to play in the playoffs. Yeah. And I, you know, I think Stuart Skinner for me has earned, um, the benefit of the doubt the way he's played. It's man, you look at some of the first round matchups right now and right now it's, it's them and the Kings, but like the Golden Knights are only a couple of points away from being third in that division. As it stands right now, it's like the stars and Golden Knights in the first round. We got Leafs and Bruins, maybe Leafs and Panthers in the first, like we're headed for a couple of, I mean, the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is always the best round, but like we got a couple that, I mean, you could see, yeah, two cup contenders in both conferences. Yeah. Going at it in the first round. Yeah. The West is going to be an absolute nightmare. Uh, even the central, right? Like I look at Colorado, Winnipeg, Dallas, all three of those teams in my mind are Stanley Cup contenders. One of them is going home in the first round. Winnipeg's weird, right? Like we have talked about them like they're that team and based on points percentage, they're still the best team in the division, but it does feel like the shines kind of off them a little bit. Does it feel that way with you? Like I'm not saying they deserve to be. It just feels like we're not talking about the way we want it to be exposed a little bit just because they're such a defensive team. And I think Connor Hollabuck's such a big part of that. But no, that's a good hockey club and it's just kind of disappointing that one of those guys is going to go home early. But yeah, even the Pacific Vancouver's low knob, Vegas is Vegas, Stanley Cup still runs through Vegas. It's going to be a lot of good first round match ups. This isn't one year in a long time where I think it's like up to probably eight teams in my mind that could probably win this thing. Yeah. Good NHL playoffs. Guys can't wait. Oh, it's wide open. Um, so yeah, we got to let you go in a couple of minutes because the show is over, but also you have to do TV. You got to make up on you got to get your hair did. You got to put your tie on down now. Maybe if you put the pressure on my mouth, yeah, using this tie that you might be wearing. Use it. You should always, first of all, like just some advice for next time, just ask for forgiveness instead of permission. Right? Obviously with these things. But tell us what you were telling us in the break. Yes. Someone told me you can do everything on TV once. Yeah. One radio to I have a great old NHL tie that I may be wearing at some point throughout the day today. Yeah. We're just going to get worse. Just give it to Elliot. There you know, he's, we're off in the corner in the players. Oh, they're not letting you talk to them. They're on the big panel. We're in a separate room to be honest. So you got your stories lined up. Are you ready to tell some tales? Because again, five o'clock and that's two hours after the deadline, Luke, you got. And who knows? Hey, there's some big names. Tyler to Foley. He's going to move. And maybe we see a bush neighbor. She could be on the move as well. No, we said 50 50. Yeah. We still got some big names left. And I got stories for days. So we got Brad May, Christopher Stieg, Derek Royer, all sitting with me and Carolyn's host Annette. So I'm sure the stories are going to be flying. Yeah. Can't wait to watch. Again, the broadcast starting in just over an hour and running all the way until five o'clock. The deadline is at three o'clock all the way till five. But you're looking forward to it because you hate me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Super, super excited. Yeah. Yeah. We have thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed our chats and honestly, just once again, thank you to the Leafs and Bruins for obliging last night. Oh my God. It made this conversation that much more fun as opposed to me having to go, the Leafs winning kind of tail tucked again. This was much more fun to talk about. I'm not just having to talk after that Sabers game. We're like, no, no hockey. We were supposed to be there. And we dodged a bullet on that one. Yeah. I mean, if this was Wylers Radio 2, that game in Columbus last night, absolute snooze fast. No, we got some good stuff here. Alright. This has been the Fan Morning Show Sports. I've found out how to fan, found out how to sprint. Got it. Good morning. [MUSIC] [MUSIC]
