Jonas Siegel - TSN 1050 Leafs beat reporter(12:20)
Joins Hayes and McLennan to update the status of James Reimer. It was always hard to imagine Reimer missing just a week to 10 days. Until he is out there for a practice he is a ways away from return. Jonas doesn't expect the media will be allowed to speak with James. The team has been playing well since Reimer went down, even Joffrey Lupul noted how well guys have stepped up since the injury bug hit the club. The guys look at potential veteran goal tending options for the Leafs. Jonas believes Ben Scrivens has been more prepared for his opportunity this year compared to last.
Rob Ray - Buffalo Sabres color analyst (12:30)
Rob thinks the firing of Lindy Ruff was the right move, suggests it may have come 2-3 year later than it should of. The problem was the inconsistent efforts put forth by the team. A change was absolutely needed, they exhausted every avenue of changes before coming to this. It is talented team that needs to be performing better. Ryan Miller is a leader in that locker room and guys don't have a problem when he speaks his mind publicly. Ryan has matured a great deal over the years, at times he feels something needs to be said. Now that this move has been made all pressure has now been put on Darcy. Ownership provided this team with the resources to compete and the results have not been delivered.
Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune and Steve Coates, Voice of the Flyers on Comcast SportsNet - 1:32 pm
Rossi and Coates talk about the rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. Both say that the rivalry is due to the Sidney Crosby era and after the Penguins won the Cup in 2009. The Flyers have always deemed themselves as a menacing team and the Penguins like to pride themselves on the individual skill they have. Having Crosby and Claude Giroux as two young captains who will be with their teams for a while escalates he rivalry even more.
Darren Dreger - TSN Hockey Insider (1:45)
Brian Burke and the Leafs thought it was best to cut clean, probably something that should have happened as soon as the Leafs decided to let Brian go. It appears as if Brian will serve as a right hand man to Bob Murray in Anaheim. The guys look ahead to Brian's potential role with the Ducks. Whatever the agreement is with the Ducks, Brian will still be getting paid by the Maple Leafs, anything the Ducks are paying Burke gets taken off what the Leafs owe Burke. Darren looks ahead to how this move could impact the potential resigning of many of the Ducks pending UFAs.
Ray Ferraro - TSN Hockey Analyst (2:00)
Hard to make sense of the Burke job in Anaheim, at some point the other shoe will drop because Brian Burke isn't an NHL scout, he is an NHL GM. Brian leaving and returning to the Ducks is life in pro sports much like in the media world, when you leave a place you don't think you'll be back one day. It now appears as if Dave Nonis is set in stone as the Leafs GM, no one in the hockey world sees Nonis as anything but a full time GM. Ray begins to make fun of a recent twitter picture Bryan posted earlier today. Ray expects Lindy Ruff will take some time away from the game but is certainly a coveted NHL asset and will have no problem getting another head coaching job in the league. The guys compare the Lindy Ruff era in to the Andy Reid era in Philadelphia but is a little confused why they would fire Ruff without a full time replacement ready to take over, he doesnt understand the concept of an interim coach.
Ariel Helwani, MMAFIGHTING.COM and Fuel TV - 2:32 pm
Helwani discusses Ronda Rousey's participation in the UFC. Dana White said in the past that there aren't enough women contenders but was never against women participating in the league. Rousey is good looking and it kind of helps her with her popularity. Fans complaining about how the UFC is more entertainment than focusing on the real style of MMA fighting. Lately, the UFC have been putting together some title fights that they may not have done a couple years ago. But at the end of the day they are here to sell tickets and gain viewers.
Joel Quenneville - Chicago Blackhawks Head Coach (3:05)
Joel tells us about the team success early in the season, its almost hard to explain how they have done this. Joel wont go as far to say the lockout was a good thing. Notes that this team is different from the one that won the cup a couple years ago, it is important for this team to create its own identity. The success the team is having wouldn't be possible without great organizational depth and leadership. It is possible for Joel to create controversy even when the team is winning. When asked if Chicago/Vancouver is the best rivalry in the league he notes how great the rivalry has become but also makes mention of the rivalry going on between Philly and Pitt. He is fine with the suspension handed down to Hansen, he respects the job the NHL office has to do, and lets us know that Hossa is already feeling better but before he can play he must go through the concussion protocol process. Ray Emery has been a key part of the teams success this season and makes mention of Rays quality play last year. When asked about the Lindy Ruff firing in Buffalo Joel reflects on the inevitability of being fired in pro sports, having been let go two times in his career he reflects on the first time being fired is always the toughest.
Sean Deveney - Sporting News.com
Sean joins the show to speak with Bryan about an uneventful NBA trade deadline, even though it is possible for moves to still trickle in from league office nothing major is coming. The conversation turns to the Raptors as the guys discuss what sort of trade value Andrea Bargnani. Sean believes Bargnani could easily still get dealt in the summer if a team wouldn't mind picking up an expiring contract. The state of the Lakers has been the hot button NBA issue as the potential of them turning this season around becomes less likely.
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