Sam McKee & Greg Wyshynski on the Leafs Demise

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other limits in terms of high. Fan morning shows sports at five nine in the fan. Ben and his

friend gunning Sam McKee of Real Kipper and Warren and Leafs talk buddy. Happy Monday. Have

you thought about what these Leafs talks are going to sound like after the trade deadline and

you got to talk about the games that this Leafs team plays. Morning boys. No, I haven't thought about

it a whole lot. I mean, I, you know, I think it's kind of uncharted territory for me and I don't

know gunner, but I just, you know, doing shows about teams at sock. Like I've never done shows on

air, but like it's just flat out bad team. So we're entering uncharted territory. I mean, it can't

depress me nearly as much as the weather. So, oh, hold on. It's it's March. It's March second.

Why is it minus 15? Welcome, buddy. We do. I do this. I think with you literally every year. Yeah,

it's not. Well, we get it winter. Uncle, it's horrible. You know, I see the long term. Yes, I have.

I have older than 11 in a week. Oh, what a thrill. 20. Jesus. It's March. There's going to be 20.

It's not going to be 20. It's also sunny. It's going to be 20. I see everybody that's clinging to

that 20 degree thing. I'm seeing it. No, it's going to be at least 15 this weekend. Oh,

literally this weekend. You're going to be on a patio in nine degree weather. It's going to be

great. No, it'll be awesome. And then it'll go back to freezing cold for another month before

it's actually nice. Look, it's just I, I, I gotta tell you boys, it's, it's not the leaves that

are getting to me. It's the cold. It's not, it's horrible. It's not the leaf's fault that it's

cold. It's their fault for honestly, just about everything else in the world. And you know,

I'm the king of letting that team dictate my mood and mental health and everything that goes

in between. But no, it's not their fault. And also, like, we do this literally every year.

We're like, it's March. It's about, yeah, buddy. You know, many times I'm watching the masters

and it's cold. Oh, yeah. I don't like it. I don't like it anymore than you do. But, but I think

you might just get ready, get ready to learn winter jacket in March, buddy.

We're at least we're not all as depressed as Shaynauari today. So yeah, we talked about that.

All, all world. Okay, which was worse? The shot into the water on 17 when there was no earth when

they showed his ball entering the water or the just dead shank with an iron on on 16, which was

worse. The 16 was the beginning of the end. Yeah. Didn't trust it. Didn't trust the club he had in

his hand. And God, I just, it was hard to watch. But that's a Maria. Good for him. That's a big win

for him. That's a you know, the majors, I think, right? Like, that's a huge, that's a huge deal for

him. So good for him. Yeah. Great for him. I will say that like the Shaynauari, it reminded me

of myself, not like, obviously, wish to be in the position that Shaynauari is in. But

they're not as likable. Don't forget that question. I drink maybe as much beer, though. Like,

maybe we could go toe to toe. I like I don't like your chances there. I don't know. I have more

free time than chain. Anyways, um, but yeah, like thinking about the finish line and talking about

how he's imagining his, his kid running across the 18th green, although you Sam, you're the guy that

is so immune from that. Like, I don't know. Do you, do you ever have rounds where you think about

the finish line anything? Like, do you ever have rounds where you think about anything? Actually,

it's with the way I should. Yeah. I would say like, when I'm, when I'm playing very well,

when I'm playing very well, I will think about like what I could potentially shoot for sure.

But then, you know, but then I remember that I'm a Bozo who played paid $85 to do this.

I'm not like, it doesn't have any effect on anything. And usually that helps. So I need to get

to the spot. I, I just am really, really proud of you for not mentioning a mutual friend of all,

all three of ours, Andrew Walker, when he choked like a dog when he was up on you, a billion

shots in a match. I'm just really proud of you for not bringing that up, man. I won't do that.

I'm not okay. No, we're not going to do that. All right. Do you want to talk about the leaves?

Yeah, I guess we must. I don't know. Briar's on. Did you see the, do you see that a great

shot from guy from Northern Ontario that's giddy as they come? Yeah. No, we have to talk about the

leaf. Sorry, but yeah. So what do I talk about? I mean, what do you, what do you do with that first

period? Like that is, that isn't saying that. I mean, it's one thing. And it, and it's so easy

to do the thing where it's like, oh, yeah, they let go of the reins and they know it's over.

It really wasn't like it, it is over now. And it didn't have to be over like they were on a

three game winning streak as as fraudulent as that may have been and following the six game losing

streak. And they were only a point back of the senators going into that game on Saturday.

Send seemed to care about winning hockey games. What, what are we supposed to do with that first

period, especially, but the whole hockey game? Well, it was back to back first periods, right?

Like it was, they, they came out and the, the first game against Tampa. And they played pretty

well in the first period. I thought like it was, you know, it looked like a normal hockey game

and they got filled in from there. And it's almost as though like they, they just know, they know

like we know, like they're just like, why are we doing this? And which is totally unprofessional.

And I'm not, I'm not excusing it. But it just, it feels like everybody involved except the front

office and coach no knew it was over from even from before the break. So I don't know. I,

you know, I did a, we did least talk on Saturday night. I called for the job of the head coach.

I hate doing it. But at some point you have to show the people that pay thousands and thousands

and thousands of dollars to support this team that you like are noticing that something's wrong,

that you are acknowledging that this isn't good enough and good isn't good enough. I don't know

if you guys have heard that before. We'll go bad. We'll go bad. It's bad. Good enough. Like I just,

they're just, I know they're going to trade a bunch of guys away this week and all that stuff.

But just it's been a stunning lack of movement on anything outside an assistant coach

all year for a crappy team. So I don't know what that is. I don't know what the starts are.

I distinctly don't care. And I don't think they're showing up for the coach. And I don't think

that's necessarily the coaches fault. But boy, it'd be nice to let him go back to Philly and just

love his life. Remember, this is not fun right now. No, it would know a hard degree on that.

Remember when it was like, oh, the Leafs don't start on time. But then they played awesome

second and third periods in the Babs era. Like at least give us, give us that. Okay, you mentioned

Baroube and I'm there. I'm there with you. The idea of like you, something has to give,

something has to change. I think it'd be different. Maybe you feel differently about this. And Hockey

doesn't exactly work this way. It's not as though they hired Sean McVey to be the head coach

of the Leafs. So it's like, look, this guy is actually like a tactician. He is a mastermind

of the game. He sees it in a way that nobody does the whole point, the whole point of Craig Baroube

being the Leafs coach to two fold, I guess. So there's two things. And I don't know, like pick one.

I think I guess we saw a little bit of it on Saturday night is make the team play hard and yell at

them if they don't and yell at them, hopefully in front of us. And it feels like neither of those

things are happening. And again, do I think it is entirely Craig Baroube's fault? No, I don't know

if like tow Blake or Scotty Bowman or whoever is getting this team to play harder than they do

right now. But I think that's the thing. This isn't some different head coach. That's Baroube's whole

MO is to be the hard gruff head coach that's not yucking it up with the fellas. And it just feels

like you can't even get that out of him. What is it you'd say you do here? Yeah, he's just kind of,

I think he's just twisting in the wind. I don't think anybody expected them to be in this position.

I don't think he expected them to be in this position, clearly. And I think he's probably pretty

lost. I mean, when you do whatever you say whatever you want to say in the locker room,

before around probably around 647 on Saturday night when you're trying to get the fellas all fired

up after they come out for their, their, their skate before the, before the flight or whatever.

And you go out there and they give up, you know, they score the first goal. They're like, oh,

maybe we were, maybe they're still going to play against Ottawa. That's nice to see. And then

then they get filled in and they don't try. Like you've got to be kind of lost. It's got to be

a frustrating feeling. You can only do so much to try to motivate these guys. And you're right. He's

not, he's not a tactician. He's not Sheldon Keefe who was a totally different type of coach. I just,

you know, you guys have watched hockey and sports long enough. You know, when you know,

like you can just see it. It's a, I mean, I don't, I'm stunned. We're sitting here and nothing's

happened. I, I really can't believe like I asked bunk at the end of the lease talk on Saturday

night. Well, he'd be coaching on Monday night. And both of us were kind of like, maybe not,

probably not. And he's going to, and I feel for him because it's going to get ugly tonight.

They're going to play like crap. They're probably going to lose. And it's going to be ugly again.

Just like, just let this guy be done with it. But I've got this misery here here. Honestly, like,

yeah, he tried to do something. He tried to get workman's comp. So we didn't have to do it anymore.

It's like, that's what the gym accident was. He's like, surely you can't keep running me out here.

Look at this. I got to go sit down somewhere and they're like, no, no, get out there. We'll stick it up.

I don't, I don't, I don't think he's a great coach, okay? Clearly. But I don't think he's this bad.

I don't know. I totally, I think they've quit. They've quit. Watch the team. Watch the games.

They've quit. They don't want to play for him. Well, do you, do you want the, the, the, the bump?

Maybe not. I don't know. But just there, you, you, you, you have to have some, I guess maybe they

don't because of what I've watched this organization for 10 years. You have to have some accountability.

But it's just, it's not good enough, man. They, they play like crap every night. Yeah.

Every night. But that sounds like a thing that Brad drew living will have to do. And he's done

perilously few things, right? Like he did the, he fired the assistant coach, which actually,

like, resulted in and stuff. But other than that, it's like, hey, he made a way for back on it.

I'm, I'm choice. You top five pick. Wow. I guess. I don't know. That needle is so hard to thread

too, right? Like you have to be so bad. I also have outlined like, do you know what happens?

If they, by miracle of miracles, end up retaining their pick this year. You know what happens

for the next two years, 27 and 28. Yeah. And unprotected. Both of them, like, they're gone. So

you better, you better be good right away after being so bad that you ended up in the top five. So

yeah. I mean, there's a pastor. I mean, surely another highly skilled forward in

Gavin McKenna will fix everything. Yeah. Help. No, look, I'm not saying I don't want them.

I'm just saying it's hilarious that if that were the piece of luck they have,

then even then it's not the D. Yeah, you need, you need that last year with Shafer. Isn't it

just crazy how there seems to be a lack of urgency though from Brad for living? Like we got

that one thing. And yet it did a thing that powerbley got better and wins actually started to flow.

But and a choice that you're, hey, they did that other thing. And that resulted in and more things.

But then it's like that's it. I'm done doing things like he just he hasn't done many things.

No, they don't even like really call anybody up. No, they just keep running them out there.

It's crazy. It's crazy. Like I just, I don't, you know, it'd be one thing to act like this

in a market like, I don't know, like Utah or whatever, like just sort of no one nobody cares.

Arizona. I know they're doing it on a team. That's where we're all cut. Yeah. Or just anywhere,

it's just, it's a stunning lack of anything all year. It's a stunning lack. And like you can

say that firing the, the assistant coaches and nothing in poor old savvy had to fall in the sword.

And they looked at the schedule and they're like, we're playing a bunch of crappy teams. Let's see if

we can fire him get a cat a bounce here and it worked. So good for them. It worked because they

played a bunch of bad teams and they got hot and they put themselves further into the mushy middle,

which is just perfect for when you have a top five protected draft pick. But yeah, I, I don't

have a lot of trust heading to this week, boys. I really don't. I wish I could sit here and tell

you that I have full faith in the man to do this right. But I don't think any of us sitting here

talking to how could you? Yeah, I just, I look at where this organization is at right now.

It's, it's a, it's in a horrible spot. They are in last place in the Atlantic after being

first place. They don't have their pick this year. They don't have their pick next year. They

don't have any prospects, really. Outside of Ben Danford and Eastern Cowan who you're scratching

every night. I don't know. Maybe you want to mix in a little like what's that guy's a

Deenis own burger or whatever the hell his name is. Mixing a little bit of Noah Chadwick.

Oh, he's crazy. Now we're talking. Harry Nancy from the on-sound attack. Like I can mix in some

names here. But outside of that, it's grim. They, and they don't have any talent on the roster.

Outside of two guys and one guy gets booted because of his political beliefs. Like we are in a

disaster zone here, boys. It is as bad as it gets. I'm really proud of myself for not jumping in

because the guy you're talking about is tennis luke cobalar. If I'm pronouncing that right,

and I guarantee not. But I always want to call him tinkus linkus is what I always want to call him.

So I'm really, I'm really happy. I didn't jump in with, with that. And the savior as we're talking

about him, when he's, when he's playing in the secondary league or the league for Sweden,

he's got 13 points in 42 games. So yeah, absolutely. We got Swedish Freddie the go.

Yeah, that's right. He is tall at least six, two every every day wakes up being that tall. No,

it's, it's a disaster. And not that this is coming. But because of the way the 10 year went last time,

you can't even do the thing where you're like, okay, you know what? That's it. It's time to bite

the bullet and trade a knee lander or heaven forbid trade a Matthews. Oh, what? So you can

recreate, well, well, because you, so you can recreate the math Gachach trade and you can have,

you can have Jonathan Huberdo McKenzie-Wieger for it. Like, I think that's the other part of it.

I'm not, I'm not saying that you cannot do those moves. If it's a GM, you trust in there. But

well, it's going to be, well, it's not, I mean, this summer, yeah, you're not, you're not

trading a William knee lander and Austin Matthews at the deadline. It's going to be in the offseason

if you're doing that. And listen, I'm not, I'm not necessarily advocating for that. I think that,

I think that teams are allowed to have a bad season. Of course, right? Like that, that happens

all the time in, in competitive windows, like where teams have bad years or down years, injuries

or whatever. I just, I don't see any signs of this being just a down year. That's the thing.

It's like you look ahead to next season. I think you give it the college try again, like you're

trying to be good next year. But if you feel it early, then it's when you really pivot. Like with

the connox. Oh, yeah, when he is, right? Yeah, like it's you where you pivot, you pivot right away.

That's that's the move. So we'll see. Yeah, at least it's only top 10 protected next year,

right? If you end up giving this is the Bruins, your first this year, and you know, keep it maybe

around 10. All you have to do is why didn't he do that for this year? Bunker said it on his show.

I don't know how long ago. But like, oh, they wouldn't have taken that trade top 10 protected.

Yeah, Bucala came on with us and like broke, broke my heart. I was like, I was Ralph Wiggum.

It's like, here's the moment when he died, when his heart broke in half of, uh, uh,

Buc said basically saying, yeah, that's like a pretty standard pick protection. Like top 10,

it was not going to alter that trade. They were already, they're already cackling going to the

bank with their number one center in Frazier, Minton. So yeah, they were going to turn it

down over that. It's nuts, nuts, nuts. And it's okay. It's not like it's like your bitter

division rival that just like kicks you in the teeth every chance you get. No, it's fine.

We get to them to the cleaners. Yeah. Okay. So I think it's pretty clear. I think, but I guess

I can't say definitively that Craig Brubay is not long for this world in 2627. I think it's less

clear that the true living of it all. And why? Oh, listen, I'm not saying it shouldn't be that way.

But do you think that, okay, Keith Pelley shows up in first year? Hey, look at all the success we

had winning a division, getting to seventh game of the second round and all one, but I mean,

and then we can we actually have evidence because we have an email sent out to season ticket holders

that it was the injuries. Sam, what are you talking about? Chris Tannen, you got injured, okay?

Who could have foreseen something? What were they supposed to do? And Anthony Stollars also got

injured? Okay. So shut your mouth. But yeah, I'm less convinced that that the what I agree,

it seems like an obvious move and depending on who you can go out and get. And maybe the Bill

Zito winked to Austin Matthews was, Hey, listen, I can be had here because, you know,

our contractual status isn't so great. And we're actually the exact same spot as the Lisa

are in the standings, although no barcobs. So they have action. I'm a bigger leg to stand on.

I know also no set Jones, I guess. And two cups. Also the two cups. But yeah, yeah, sure,

but might be time to get out there after the two cups. You've already done the thing. Anyways,

yeah, how convinced are you that Keith Pellies sees it the way that you probably should see it

when it comes to the GM? Boys, I'm not convinced of anything. I don't know. I think your concerns are

fair. I mean, I, I guess I just go back to the press conference where they're just not like,

you know, we're not trying to sell jerseys. Good isn't good enough. You have to believe

that watching this and being, you know, seeing the way the fans have reacted to this and

booze raining down from the rafters. What percentage of nights at Scoti Bank Arena this year?

40% of nights. I should be higher. 30% of nights where booze of rain down. I do think

there's, you know, he has to know how it feels. I think he was on the, like maybe he was on

the trip to Florida. Maybe he was, I mean, maybe he wanted to, you know, this time of year,

I would mind going to Florida, either. But like, I guess he's got, he's got to have his finger on

the pulse. He's got to know. And who? It's got to be a president. It's got to be a general manager.

You need the two. You need the top dog and you need the other guy. Like, I'd love to see them go

the route of like a creative young person. I know dubious just left. Well, you don't get to say that.

Why not? Do the, do the agent, do the agent of hockeyman mix? The agent of hockeyman mix is the move.

Like, like what they're like, what the haves did with Ken Hughes, right? Where it's like an agent

and then like, Gorton has the hockey move, a hockeyman at the top. You need the combination.

You can't just have the, I guess they have a million people in their front office that I'm slagging

right now. But like, you need names. You need some people here that are going to be able to make

some smart decisions. And you're right. I don't get to say it about dubious, but dubious blew this

thing up too. They have no draft picks. Like, if they had to hit on more than one draft pick,

that was Matthew Nies. And boy, we can have a Matthew Nies conversation if you want to. But like,

if they had any draft picks, I think books came on our show. I don't know when the God love books

and said like at the 30 something picks that Kyle dubious made over his time here. Like four

have played an NHL game. You know, that, that hurts too. And then you can talk about the bad trades

and the bad signings or whatever. No one's like, oh, he's doing a great in Pittsburgh. Yeah,

he's just trying to get picks. Like, he wasn't, she's not trying to win there. Like, you know,

like lots of people can trade for picks. And I'm hoping Bradshaw living's one of them.

Yeah. I actually have the leafstraft history in front of me because I was looking up at a say

Tinkus linkus's name. But yeah, you're right. It's not, it's not what you want. It is not what you

want there. Okay. So I agree with you. I, we actually just finished the segment in which I railed

and Ben agreed, we both railed together about the idea of president, president, president,

gotta have somebody at the top. Okay. How is too much responsibility here? I will heartedly agree.

Here's the question to have about that though. And maybe the answer is just like bags of money

will fix that sir. When Sheldon Keefe was fired, this was a sexy coaching job. Like Craig

Brube had his had, he could have had other opportunities and felt like he was kind of like waiting

around for that Sheldon Keefe job to open up. If Brube is fired here, which I think again,

not to rehash the first 20 minutes of this conversation, that's a common. And for living

as no longer the GM here, do you still think this is seen as a buy and large like outside of the

person who's like, I just want to be the savior. It wouldn't matter who was on the roster right now.

I want to be the guy to turn that around. I think there will be those people. But when you're just

looking at the situation that this team finds itself in how sexy a job, how sexy of an opportunity,

do you think it is to be either the Leafs head coach or GM or president if there if there is one?

I don't know. I don't think very sexy right now. It's always sexy. But I think at the

still at the same time, like I, you can talk about it being the Leafs and you get, you know,

you're the one that turned it around. But at some point that argument's going to go out the window.

Right? Like what signs you're coming in here with disgruntled fans with a

star that, you know, every conversation about him is how he wants out. William Nylander who,

you know, he's great, but as a best player on a team, you know, you can talk to your sweetenable

that looks like, you know, no decor, no draft picks. It's a big job. So if you got somebody

who's really into working hard, then maybe they can figure it out. Also, do they have to speak,

like Ken Hughes had to speak French? Do they have to speak Mimicoese? Like do they have to mix

in a bod there? Yeah. Maybe. I don't know, man. It's just, it's, it's sexy because it's the Leafs,

and I think that'll always will be, but that part of it for me is the only reason. But

also, you look at this, John. Now, these, no, this, that what is unequivocally true, and you can

quibble about whether it's a, it's a good place to, to come as a hockey player. And I still think

you should want that smoke and that's awesome. Like you should be falling over yourself to play here.

But like there's a debate and I understand it. There has never been a debate about being the

head coach or the general manager or the president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, partly because there's

no cap. They could just pay Mike Babcock $8 million a year, right? Or whatever. But no, it's,

it's show me the example of somebody who's said, who's given the Leafs the Heisman ever, right?

When it's, it's come to being the head coach or the general, they get their pick of the litter.

Like that's not even a discussion for me. Okay. I, I do think that conversation may change.

Yeah, I don't know, because I like was Bradshaw living the pick of the litter or was he the first guy

that was standing there? Oh, no, he was, he was the best available. Well, the best available.

I mean, that's why Bradshaw living also got the job because he was the best available.

Right. And the two seconds when Kyle Dubas was pouring the, that carousine on his head.

Yeah, that was a disaster. Yeah, probably made sure they got a fire extinguisher in there.

Maybe. Yeah, man. Anyways, fun. There's been a lot of mistakes. You think?

A lot of mistakes. You think there has been exclusively mistakes. It's hilarious. They've been in,

they've been in the playoff nine straight years and I look back on this air and be like, it was all

mistakes. Yeah, really? Like it's crazy to think about how good this team could have been without

the mistakes. Yeah, I mean, boy, I mean, right? Like one of the first that comes to mind, because

we're, I don't know, and it was ringing around in my head with the Bobby McMahon, but it's actually

talking extension at five times five is like exactly. I'm in extension because he was the one guy

that you weren't allowed to give no move protection to. Yeah, I mean, the, the, the, the, the,

letting Zachime ago to pay Andre Kasha, Nick, Nick Richie, and Peter Merazek, seven and a half

million, it probably wouldn't do that one again. Right. Not probably wouldn't do that one again.

You know, I probably wouldn't trade Patrick Marlow's last year of a contract to the

Caroline Hurricane, so they could draft staff Jarvis. It's probably wouldn't do that one either.

Wouldn't do that one again. Yeah. Yeah.

I wouldn't let him rode on Amarov die. I wouldn't. I mean, there's some bad breaks. No, there's

for sure some bad break. Oh, is this a dubious defense? Is this what this is?

Yeah. I mean, it sounds like a dubious. Yeah, because here's what I have given up defending it,

because it had to get better, right? We're two years out and it could not be worse.

That's that's where it is. It's not. It is not. Kyle Dubas was the savior. And this team would

have been I suck both them suck. That's out. I think both of them haven't been very good degrees

of suckitude. And I think there was a little less. Yeah, I said this was bunkist, but I'll get

your guys take. I think there's more pressure on this deadline for drilling than it was on last.

I don't know because I can see the argument, but I think the thing is is that yes, you have to

sell these pieces. Yeah. But like what if no one gives him a first round pick for Bobby McMahon,

we have to place him in the gallows. I think it's also your definition. If you're going to go ahead,

but go ahead, man. I was just going to say it depends on your definition of pressure because like

clearly at the deadline last year, he wasn't under pressure to lose his job. Like it was nothing,

but how incredible is this blue line? And yeah, it's probably too much and for too long for

Chris Tanaven, you know, the back end's going to be bad. But look at what a revelation he's been,

he's changed everything and they're going to win the division for the first time this year.

It's like, oh, yeah, I know this guy is not going to not going to work here anymore. Like,

yeah, obviously that type of pressure is more extreme than the one to win where it's like your

job is on the line. But I think the fan base is at a way worse spot now than they were in that

point. It's obviously and I just I think that there's a lot of they're putting a lot of hope

on this deadline in terms of being able to restock the cupboards and change the future of this

team. And if you like box the first for Bobby McMahon, the way he's played, then the

the yeah, is he actively tanking his trade value? I texted you this on Saturday night that I

genuinely think he is proving how much he loves being a leaf because he's like, no, don't get

be able to get anything for me. Yeah, but I don't know if they hold on to some guys after the deadline

that everybody thought they were going to trade. Like, for example, if all of recommend

Larson doesn't get traded, he's going to get traded. That's a bad example. Let's say, you know,

Scott Lawton or somebody. Sure, but they don't trade them. People are going to be pissed.

People are going to be like, what are you doing? They signed McMahon instead of training him.

Oh my god. People will be so pissed. Like, there's so much pressure on this. You have to do the bear,

like the bare minimum is to come out of this deadline with a with like a first round pick.

Oh, I was just going to say like, pressure is interesting because like, I agree there is

pressure, but it also feels like there's nothing he could do to relieve said pressure. Like,

he can amp it up infinitely more. I disagree. I disagree. They have a good deadline. He can change,

he not changed the perception, but people, I think people would admit that he did a good job.

Like saying that thing at the funeral as opposed to just like, you know,

I do, but do you not care at all about legacy? If you're him, sure. He's going to go down as the

guy that ended this era. And if he can come out of this deadline with God forbid, two first

round picks, a second, maybe a prospect. People will at least look back and be like, well,

that deadline, you know, at least it kind of, at least it didn't totally screw us.

How did we get here? Oh, look at that deadline. Oh, no, not the one where they traded for

guys, but when they, when they got rid of all the guys that know what I mean. No, I'm not,

I'm not disagreeing with you. It's just, it is just another example of how crazy it is that

we've got here. Yeah, you're right. Yeah, man. Yeah. If you could somehow get them that

Bruins pick back, man. Yeah, you're right. I was so excited when the Bruins were like, there was

the thought of them potentially trading it to Calgary for Rasmus Anderson. Yeah. I was so excited.

I was like, yes, get that baby out of the division. Let the, let the Calgary flames have whoever

they're going to get with that pick. That'd be fine. Yeah. But no, no, they still have it.

No, no, no. Maybe they'll trade it at this deadline. We'll see. Yeah, almost certainly not,

but yeah, maybe it could be Gavin McKenna. All right. Bye. Bye, Sam. I'll put think another uplifting

conversation about the local team. All right. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye.

All right. Sam McKee real kicker born born and leaf stock. No, it's not going to be.

I need the sun to come out. It's already out, but like the sun and the warm weather need to come

for that guy because he is, would you not agree of all the people and are like kind of work orbit

at least, generally speaking, the most positive, like a pretty, pretty upbeat, pretty happy,

go lucky guy, you know, kind of like the office dog at times. It's like, hey, Sammy, how are you,

how are you doing, buddy? Let's stock some golf. Let's stock some leaves. Let's stock some J's.

And it's like if he's dower, what what hope is there for the rest of us? Yeah. No, I, I am with him

in regard to how affected my mood is by the weather. I will say though, it being cold, but the sun

being out, that's okay. Like I can deal with that, but just not seeing the sun for as long

as it's been, but I am, I am a guy that, that thinks about the future a little bit. And I, I am,

like it literally lifted my spirits this morning to look at, okay, how long do we have to wait until

we get something resembling spring type weather? And it's not that long. It's like literally this weekend,

it'll be 15 degrees rainy, maybe. It was so cold when I turned my car on this morning,

all this little baby. I'm like, it's so cold. So, yeah. No, I agree. Weather weather would help,

but nothing improves my mood more than the leaves being good and that ain't coming any time soon.

No, you may have to wait for that one. All right. And they are, they just aren't going to suck

enough to get like, and again, like is it the perfect scenario if they get their own pick? I don't know

Gary Batman, you could pay for all your sins right now, rig the lottery, give the Leafs

Scaven McKenna, they immediately bounce back. They give the flyers the 20 second pick next year,

or the Bruins and then the flyers beyond it. And we just move on from this.

That would be electric factory, right? Like the most exciting moment of this season could be lottery

day for the Leafs. Do you imagine? I don't think they do it like the NBA, like I think they just

have like the guys who work for the team there, but it's like, who do they send? Do we send mats?

Yeah, we send windmill. Interesting. Yeah. All right. We'll come back. Greg Wushinsky, ESPN,

is the fan morning show continues, Ben and I have spring gunning SportsNet 590, the fan.

From Taco Night into Loan to sushi in Tokyo, make every bite rewarding with gold from MX,

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Fan morning show SportsNet 590, the fan, Ben and his brand gunning.

Least you're going to attempt to play a hockey game. I guess it will technically be a hockey game

tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers on Amazon Prime. Our buddy at NAND, Vircle,

be in town. So maybe that'll be the positive vibes. This team needs to overcome what has been

about as bad a three game stretch as you could have imagined coming off the Olympics.

All right. Let's talk to Greg Wushinsky of ESPN. How's it going, Greg?

It's going okay. It was sort of a grim promo for what should be an exciting game with absolutely

no playoff implications tonight. So, do we, we were just talking with our producer about like,

what, what is the definition of funny to you? What's the definition of exciting to you, Greg?

Because I love all hockey, but I don't know that exciting is the way I would, would,

would tee up any leaf game these days. You know, I was looking at the standings in the east after

last night and what happened to our beloved Eastern Conference? What happened to our beloved

everybody's in it and everybody's got a chance and oh my god, it's the complete,

like 12 team race to the finish line. I don't know what happened to that playoff race,

man. I feel like we're down to the teams and playoff seedings and the capitals.

Like, I feel like that's kind of where we are right now in the east and and that's a bummer

because at one point, it just seemed like everyone outside of like the Rangers had a shot at

making the playoffs and I don't think that's the case anymore in the Eastern Conference.

I think this this playoff race might be headed to Dudsville unless someone really stumbles or

someone really catches fire. Yeah, the, I mean, hey, it's the Eastern Conference. Anybody can

stumble? Like I'm not ruling out that. But even the capitals are like fake in it, right?

Like they've got more games played than every team that's in front of them and they're outside

of a playoff position right now. No, it's you're right. It's like we blinked. Did they change

the standings? Well, we were at the Olympics or something. I know we were all busy. Like,

that is what it what it feels like. I don't want to disrespect our beloved

Columbus Blue Jackets and the fire that they have still caught with Rick bonus of their coach.

Yeah, it's like them. The capitals are kind of faking Sony because of the games played,

but I think they're a really good team. And I think I think one of the low key biggest

returns of a player from injury since the break has been Pierre-Luc Du Bois. Like that guy is

it's kind of crazy to think two years ago being like Pierre-Luc Du Bois is like the most

important player in somebody's lineup. But for real, like everything he does for that team,

including just being someone who solidifies their center depth, I think they could be a factor

late. But again, like you look at the rest of the car like the Ottawa making a run. The flyers

aren't like the Panthers looked like they were and then Andrews Lee probably ended that last night.

And then, you know, so on and so forth. So yeah, I'm a little bummed that the East

promised such such crazy zanyness towards the end. And then I think at the end of the day,

it's probably just going to be a bunch of 500 teams behind, you know, 10 really good ones.

God, that that Islanders Panthers game was so fun and the Andrews legal with 30 seconds left.

And the Matthew Schaefer of it all with another two goals and 20 on the season. That I got there

are as much as it will suck in this market. And the ratings will tell you as much in the postseason.

There are some fun teams in the playoffs. Like, well, obviously the Sabers, what they've done

this year. But that Islanders team with Matthew Schaefer, Holy Cow. And yeah,

are we thinking about what Matthew Schaefer could have looked like in Milan for sure. But holy cow,

to have 20 goals as an 18 year old and almost single handedly lead your team into the postseason.

Unbelievable. Well, well, let's take a step back on who's going to be in the playoffs because,

you know, obviously in the West, we've got Titans against each other in the central. And,

you know, McDavid will be back. And we might have some fresh blood with the Utah mammoth,

which could be kind of interesting for a second before they get knocked out. But in the East,

at least from like an American television perspective, it's not bad. Like Buffalo getting

back in for the first time in forever. Pittsburgh being in, which said Detroit being in the first

time in forever, Boston maybe being in. And that's obviously such a huge market. So from a market

perspective, it's actually not really that bad in the East, but from a sort of competitive

perspective and a playoff rate perspective, maybe it could be better. No, I mean, yeah, you get

the, you get a New York City team. I know not the one New York area team that you wanted to see in

the playoffs and maybe we'll talk about that dumpster fire of a season in a, in a second here.

But yeah, it's funny with the, with the central, the way it's worked out of all of the good teams

in the league just being there. And like, I don't know, maybe there's one or two other good ones.

But what is it with this NHL like this playoff format? It feels like since it's happened,

all of the talent seems to have crystallized in a single division any given year. I mean,

we can make all our jokes about the Leafs for the last handful of them. But it's like they're

right there is the third head in the Atlantic with the, with the lightning and the panthers there.

And then you see the central this year, like what, what next, it's going to be the Pacific

and the ducks are legit next year. It's just remarkable the way it seems to have worked out

with this playoff format that it seems like every year there's been a team that has at

worst three of the top five in the league or something along those lines.

Well, remarkable is one word for it. Terrible. Another, yeah.

The fact that two of the top five teams in the league, actually the third and fifth best teams

in the league will probably have to play each other in the first round. And the winner of that

gets to play the first team overall in the league. I don't know if that's really a good playoff.

Like, here's the thing. I was talking America about this the other day and like the idea that

this playoff format stinks. And, you know, he made the argument that it will deliver us stars

versus wilds most likely unless like the wild can somehow catch the avalanche or the stars,

KC avalanche. And his argument is that that's great. That's like good for hockey to have good playoff

matchups. And even if it's in the first round, it's not a big deal. I just think that this playoff

format continues to completely devalue the regular season. I just do. Like, what are we doing?

Like, what are those central teams doing to do to earn the right to just, you know,

cannibalize each other in the first rounds of the playoffs? It's, it's nuts to me. And the players,

the players feel the same way. I talked to a lot of players with this playoff format. And,

and their biggest gripe is having to see the same matchups over and over again as we get ready for

yet another round of King's Oilers potentially at some point. But again, like a lot of them grew

up with the one through eight. I think they prefer that. And, and I think this format is just,

it's just it's the weirdest thing for the NHL out of one side of their mouth being like our regular

season is important and the other side of their mouth being like, but this playoff format is

what we're going to go with and it completely devalues it. Yeah, no, I'm with you. I don't see

what the problem is with one through eight. Okay, so Austin Matthews, despite being, we were told

he has to be referred to as a winner after winning the gold medal by the Hughes brothers that

told us that. And it's, you know, he did get a innovation when he was introduced as a gold

medal winner yesterday. So I think we're done with that discourse. Yeah, the devils are in a

worse spot than even the Leafs in the Eastern Conference standings. But as Jack Hughes actually

become Teflon, like, like, can you no longer criticize Jack Hughes if you're a devils fan?

First of all, it's not a lost season. I mean, we are tied for the greatest number of players

to appear on an episode of Saturday at Live with the Wild, which I think is a really really

impressive stat. Yeah, I think you're right. I mean, Jack was taking some grease before the

Olympic break because he missed the last two games of the devil season before the Olympic break.

And they're both teams. They were chasing Columbus and the Islanders and it was like lower body

injury, yada, yada, yada. But it's basically like he didn't want to get hurt again before the Olympics.

That's fine. I mean, it again worked out pretty well for the United States. But yeah, I mean,

like, I think a lot of the critics of Jack are forever going to be shut up because of the way that

this kid played not only in scoring that goal, but in the tournament writ large. I mean,

the criticism of him in four nations was a guy his size on the wing and the best on best is going

to just be a flop as he was in four nations and then he comes back and is the best

sword in the tournament for the US. So I think as a devils fan, we'll really enjoy it until 2030,

when he's a free agent and goes to Minnesota. But for now, it's pretty good to happen around

Jersey. Yeah, that'll be Luke Hughes's fault. Is that how that'll work? It's like if Luke

Hughes becomes everything he's supposed to be, then Quinn has to come. Like how exactly is

that? Is that going to work? Cause yeah, forever, we figured it'd just be New Jersey would be the

resting point. Well, the Queen, he'sologist, you know, one of the theories was that he wasn't

going to come to New Jersey because he would take Luke's ice time from him, which really confused

me because I just take his brother. Like, right. Well, I thought the whole point was like the three

of them wanted to play together. And, you know, unfortunately, two of them played the same

positions that was going to happen anywhere. But look, man, you I've tweeted out the stats

several times. If you look at the devil since the Queen Hughes trade didn't happen for them,

they're scoring just over two goals again. Like they're they're falling off their record is

terrible. I don't I can't say for sure that not getting Queen Hughes and the strife that caused

in the locker room when all the rumors are flying around about guys being traded out and whatever

didn't knock this team off its access. But I but I think there's evidence that it might have.

And again, like when you think about for you know, to be serious for a second, like what

we're thinking about like where this team is in the standings and the expectations. I mean,

Sheldon keeps obviously going to be fired. And I'm not going to be surprised if Tom Fitzgerald

falls in melted war because this is a real bad. This is a real bad for a team that had very high

expectations. Yeah, it's not good. It's been a bad season for the Panthers, but like understandably

so, and they have a little bit of equity in their back pocket, I would say. Do you think they

trade Sergei Babroski? And God, it would just be so sweet if the Oilers made yet another

goalie trade and they just can't beat them, join them type thing. It's impossible to imagine.

Like it's just it's not going to work and they already did their goalie trade. But do you think

they actually move off of Sergei Babroski and his walk here? And then maybe they do the thing

like the Yankees did once upon a time and reassign them in the off season, right? When we

becomes a free agent, do you think that actually happens? I don't think they would trade them

and then reassign them. I think it would either be he stays or he goes. And you know, there's probably

a short-term contract somewhere in there that they can get them on that he would agree to to not

have to like uproot his life. The question is whether or not, you know, they at his age and the

number of miles on those tires in the last three seasons want to commit to them. You know, the

thing about the Panthers, it's really interesting is they do have a very robust gold-tending department

led by Roberto Luongo. And they probably have a plan in place. They probably have an idea of

what they want to do. They probably have a few machinations of what to do if they can't settle

on a deal with Bob. But will they trade them? I don't know. I mean, like I still think that

you are talking about a pretty decent amount of cap of cap process that has to happen in order

to move the guy. And then on top of that, he has some trade protection. They're definitely

would be a market for him. But I guess it comes down to whether or not Bill Vito and Sir

David Browski's representatives have a come to Jesus moment in the next week that's like,

we're not bringing him back. And then that case, maybe he would lose.

I've got close eyes on Bill Zito. I didn't like he winked at Austin Matthews when they did

ceremonial face-off between him and Kachak, welcoming back the conquering heroes of America.

And I'm on high alert for anything he's got going on. I did not like that at all wish. I did not.

You should be more on high alert about Matthew Kachak, orchestrating the greatest recruiting trip

in the history of mankind by having all those team USA guys come to Miami to party at that club

that the Panthers go to. I couldn't believe it. Is this cap circumvention in some way,

shape, or form to have Matthew Kachak basically lead a party of guys through the place for the

Panthers party as planning the seeds for future acquisitions? I don't know. That didn't sit right

for me. As we all know, that is only a problem if the Leafs do it. They couldn't have a team flight

a half hour earlier coming out of the Christmas break. But the Utah owner is allowed to take a

picture with Clayton Keller in his private jet and be like hopping on the bird ain't she fun.

Matthew Kachak's allowed to invite like the NHLPA sanctioned mid-season party. It's like I don't

I guess they didn't have a Christmas one. So they had to have it right after US ripped out all of

our hearts there. Yeah, it is okay. So heading into heading into deadline, I don't know that there's

more pressure on a team than there is on the oilers. The wave mangy upon he obviously it's not the

old rules where that money just disappears, but it does give them some more room to maneuver.

What do you think they're doing there if it's not a goalie because I agree it's not a goalie

and there aren't they aren't a bit that bullet ones and God it was yucky. I don't know if they want

to walk back down that road. What do you think the oilers need to do and will do because I don't

think they wave mangy upon he just for the just for the fun of it? It's not a goalie. It would be

such a disaster if it was a goalie because they like you said they made their big move and

trying to show up to position. It hasn't necessarily worked, but they've made their bed. They got

a lie in that. I mean, I imagine it's going to be the blue line if you know in some way she

performed. I have heard that the possibility of them trying to find a center to keep

huge on the wing, which I think would also help their lineup. But I mean, when we talk about

the pressure of the oilers, I mean, we're obviously talking about one specific thing, which is the

three-year window Conor McDavid gave them the win before he's probably gone. And so you can't

squander any of it. I mean, that's the real pressure on this team is like their other teams have

a window to win. The oilers have a ticking clock. They know they know when this is done potentially.

So like you said, imagine a pony on waivers and they're going to obviously be I think an active

participant. The trade deadline in some way shape, perform. Mortgaging their future for all of

Reckman Larson. We're open here in this OEL, baby. Hey, listen, you know, like

it's such an interesting case because you know, like he's got the playoff experience with the

panthers. I think he plays pretty well. I think that he played really well in the Olympics.

And I think that's going to be definitely a possibility for the oilers.

Yep, we'll see. All right, Greg, appreciate the time as always. Thanks, buddy.

At any time, boys, Greg Wiesinski, ESPN. So panthers, you know, they had that win over the lease

as as impressive by them. Yeah. Yeah. That's the only that's the only when they have once the break.

I think this is actually the we always look at the schedule of like, oh, who has the soft

schedule down the stretch. We should just look at how many teams are going to have their life

reinvigorated by playing the Toronto Maple Leafs like Ottawa Senators. They're going on a run

now. They feel unbelievable. And the the the flyers tonight, they're going to beat the Leafs.

They're going to go, wow, look at us. We're invincible. It hasn't happened for the panthers.

No, no. They have the same number of points that may believe the same number of games played.

Yeah, exact same spot. They have 63 points and 60 games. So yeah, they're thinking about

what is Friday hold and what is the point of this season and and win a couple of cops and they

made that Seth Jones trade. And like, I was curious. I was like, what is their first round

situation? Yeah. Do you know it? I imagine they have it. They don't have it. Oh, okay.

Because they gave it up in the Seth Jones trade. Right, right, right, right.

But it's top 10 protected. It's top 10 protected. So oh, that was so silly of me to think the NHL

was going to rig it for so the Leafs could get Gavin McKenna. We all know where that's going.

The Florida Panthers. And and so they're still paying off the Matthew Kitchuck trade too. So it's like

that's part of the calculation, but it doesn't matter. They they will keep their first round pick

in 2026. If it's top 10, it'll be unprotected in 2027. So they got it when they're good again,

when they get their captain. Right. They're the captain in this prime. Yeah.

They don't need to drop as far as the Leafs need one. And notably, you know,

Brandon Carlos so much more important for the Leafs than Seth Jones was for the Panthers last year.

I mean, I may never get over the Panthers having their first round pick. And also for those

the need a reminder, I did in the break, like how does it work? Is everybody eligible for the first

pick? No. You can only move up five spots. Yeah. So if the Leafs finish bottom 10, they have a

2% chance of maintaining their pick and jumping up into the fifth spot. It gets incrementally,

obviously better, the further down you go. Sure. But all the Panthers have to do to assure

themselves of keeping their pick is finished ninth from the bottom. Because you can only drop one

spot. I think it's probably do that. That's insane, man. This team just won back to back Stanley

Cups and yep, they're having the year from hell as well. Yeah. Again, identical records to the

Toronto Maple Leafs. And they actually, like, is Bill Zito the president and the general manager?

If he sent out an email, was like, Hey, like, as if I need to explain the season, we just won

back to back Cups. Well, and who would know? Yeah. Right. We're with that without Matthew for

Chuck. Chuck for a good portion of the season without our captain for the entirety of it. And

hey, so we got Barovsky's maybe looking closer to 38. Whatever. Contract paid it for itself

the last two years. Who cares? But guess what? Yeah. Get some assets maybe for Barovsky?

Yeah. And and we're going to end up with a nice little asset, whether that person is around for

our next window of contention or we're trading him in the off season. Yeah, fun. No, it's

letter time. It's letter time in the NHL. The Rangers sent out theirs and Schuster can got asked

about. He's like, I can't read English. So I'm not my problem. What a nightmare. What a nightmare.

All right. We'll be back tomorrow with another edition of the fan morning. Joe Ben and his

friend getting sports at five night of the fan. Good morning. I can't give guys this for this.

And that's that's on they have to they have to come without just bad just fairly embarrassing.