The JD Bunkis Podcast

JD starts with his concerns from the Maple Leafs' Game 1 loss. He's joined by Mike Futa, former Stanley Cup-winning executive, to discuss Toronto's need for desperation, Max Domi's passion, Mitch Marner's chance to change his career narrative, and the recipe for the Leafs' stars to have success (8:00).  JD then gives some rapid-fire thoughts about the Blue Jays (40:00). Former NHL head coach Claud...

JD kicks off the show teeing up the excitement of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jason Bukala, former NHL Head Scout and Writer at Sportsnet, breaks down round-one for the Maple Leafs; the legacies on the line, how the Leafs are preparing to beat the Bruins, winning the neutral zone battles, how to get the best of William Nylander, the pressure on Sheldon Keefe to make on-the-fly adjustments, and confi...

James Mirtle, Senior Managing Editor with The Athletic, breaks down how this version of the Maple Leafs stacks up against past iterations heading into the playoffs (8:00). JD and James rank who has the highest stakes in the Leafs brass, the matchup against the Boston Bruins, configuring the blue line in Game 1 and Auston Matthews' legacy. JD then touches on the loss of the Arizona Coyotes (50:00)....

Kris Versteeg, 2x Stanley Cup Champion and Creator of the Klevr App, discusses how Sheldon Keefe and the Maple Leafs should approach game 82, William Nylander's quiet stretch run, if teams have a mental advantage against certain opponents, looking ahead to the Boston Bruins and the Leafs' psychological challenge (5:00). Sam McKee from The Real Kyper and Bourne chats about the Auston Matthews 70 go...

JD and Ben Ennis, Co-Host of The FAN Morning Show , banter about the Blue Jays' pitching trust tree, how the bullpen is shaping up, their confidence in the lineup, why Aaron Judge isn't booed more and which number one professional athlete has the widest gap between them and the rest of the athletes in their sport (00:00). Hailey Salvian, NHL and Women's Hockey Writer with The Athletic , discusses...

William Lou of The Raptors Show wraps up the Raptors' losing season; How did they get to this point? Do they have an identity? How do they develop a culture moving forward? What's the next jump for Scottie look like? How was Darko Rajaković's first season as head coach? How do they compare to past bad Raptors teams? What's Masai Ujiri's future with MLSE? Next up, Michael Collins, Senior Golf Analy...

Jackie Redmond joins JD to get into the Maple Leafs; love for Max Domi, what 70 goals really means for Auston Matthews, the notion to rest him, the recent lack of pop in the powerplay, and what's the most nerve-racking aspect heading into the playoffs (5:00). Plus, Jackie and JD give their Hart Trophy rankings! Aljamain Sterling, Mixed Martial Artist, touches on the meaning of being in UFC 300, pr...

JD says the Jays have found a new primary rival (00:00). Former NHL All-Star, Cory Schneider, discusses the NHL playoff format, trying to manufacture rivalries, challenges of being a backup goaltender in the playoffs, politics of the goaltending pecking order, the lack of mental leeway for goalies, starting your career in a Canadian market and dealing with social media as a professional athlete (1...

Brent Gunning, Co-Host of The FAN Morning and Golf Show , chats about The Masters (5:00). What would a Masters win mean to Rory McIlroy's legacy? What if McIlroy joined LIV? What's the post LIV vs. PGA reality? Plus, the tail end of Tiger Woods' career, bets for the weekend, and the other big stories at The Masters. James Mirtle, Senior Managing Editor at The Athletic , breaks down the Maple Leafs...

Ben Ennis, Co-Host of The FAN Morning Show , and JD banter about the Blue Jays' home-opener, utilizing Daulton Varsho, the pressure on the team's starting rotation, Zach Edey's college run and the solar eclipse (00:00). The Ringer's Joe House drops-in to discuss the biggest stories at The Masters; LIV versus PGA, Jon Rahm's responsibility, hope in Rory Mcllroy, if he could end up joining LIV, Tige...

JD starts things off trying to keep the vibes high for the Blue Jays home opener tonight. Colby Armstrong, Sportsnet NHL Analyst and Host on Spittin' Chiclets , discusses what makes the Pittsburgh Penguins dangerous, tonight's matchup versus the Maple Leafs, and Sheldon Keefe's approach for spreading talent around the lineup (5:00). Former Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero explains how special home o...

Kris Versteeg, 2x Stanley Cup Champion and Creator of the Klevr App, foreshadows the Maple Leafs' playoff run with JD (10:00). Kris and JD get into Mitch Marner's importance to the powerplay, how important milestones are for teammates, what will help with post-season success, and the complicated Selke criteria. Sid Seixeiro, Breakfast Television Host, airs out his grievances; Why was Marner so mad...

Jeff Marek, Host of The Jeff Marek Show and 32 Thoughts: The Podcast , chats about the place 'hating' has in sports and what individual NHL awards Auston Matthews could win this season (7:00). JD then discusses the misguided notion of resting players when they're healthy (35:00).  Caleb Joseph, Blue Jays Studio Analyst, breaks down the weight from the frustration of last season, the 'big screen ef...

JD starts with his disgust following the Blue Jays no-hit performance five games into the season (00:00). James Mirtle, Senior Managing Editor with The Athletic , discusses how Auston Matthews is perceived among Leafs' fans, how much the 70 goal milestone matters,  line experiments in the stretch run of the season, if the starting goaltender should be a question heading into the playoffs and Simon...

Ben Ennis, Co-Host of The FAN Morning Show , joins JD to go over their snap judgements from the first weekend of the Blue Jays season; Sunday's must-win, Davis Schneider's case to be an everyday player, Ernie Clement's upside over Isiah Kiner-Falefa at third base, Cavan Biggio's rising stock, mixed reactions on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daniel Vogelbach's future,  Randy Arozarena's continued Jays tor...

Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith joins JD to discuss the Blue Jays’ Opening Day win in Tampa, José Berríos’ impressive outing on the mound, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s majestic homer and encouraging swing decisions, which Blue Jays players bear the most pressure in 2024, and why he’s bullish on Toronto's offence this season. Then, JD shares his thoughts on the Maple Leafs’ 5-1 win over the Capitals, Jo...

Dan Shulman, voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, opens the show talking about Opening Day hopes, the outlook on the Jays' season, the importance of a strong start, how Daulton Varsho has prepared for a bounce-back year, the translation of energy in the clubhouse and one standout player to watch as March Madness continues (6:00). Joe Siddall, Sportsnet's Blue Jays Analyst, discusses the Jays' batting o...

Blake Murphy, Host of Jays Talk Plus , joins JD in-studio to dive into the numbers that project positive or negative regressions for the bats in the Blue Jays' lineup (00:00). Luke Fox, Sportsnet's Maple Leafs and NHL writer, chats about Sheldon Keefe's potent post-game comments, the Leafs' defensive pairings, how the team is using load management, Ilya Samsonov's injury, and the chances Tyler Ber...

Arden Zwelling, Sportsnet Writer and Co-Host of At the Letters Podcast , discusses Shohei Ohtani's comments regarding the gambling and theft investigation into his interpreter, Kevin Gausman ramping up, updates on Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson, Alek Manoah's status, the most overlooked thing of Spring Training, how the offence can be more productive, what the batting order might look like, and po...

James Mirtle, Senior Managing Editor with The Athletic , discusses his takeaways from the Leafs' weekend, the impact of having three goaltenders on the roster, how Zach Hyman will be remembered in Toronto, if the Edmonton Oilers are legit, the Leafs' blue-line since the trade deadline, and what Mitch Marner's line might look like upon his return (8:00). Ben Ennis, Co-Host of The FAN Morning Show,...

JD starts today's show weighing in on the current state of the Maple Leafs (00:00). David "Funny Dave" Dameshek joins the program to discuss sports fandom and the differences between cities, before sharing his take on the new-look new Steelers era and Kyle Dubas' Penguins (06:00). Mike Bibby, former NBA point guard and Sacramento Kings analyst, talks about the state of college athletics, getting d...

James Mirtle, Senior Managing Editor of The Athletic , chats with JD about the Leafs being stuck in the standings (again), potentially changing the NHL playoff format, topics at the NHL GM Meetings, the Leafs' lack of cohesive lines and their defensive core, plus the continued decision-making between Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll (8:00). Craig Berube, NHL veteran and Stanley Cup Champion Head Coac...

Riley Cote, former Flyers Forward, Co-Host of the Nasty Knuckles Podcast and Co-Founder of BodyCheck Health , joins JD Bunkis to discuss the Flyers' identity, Philly fandom, reinventing himself after retirement, championing mindfulness and sports psychology (7:00). Justin Bourne, Co-Host of The Real Kyper & Bourne , stops by to chat about the challenge of over-information, the Maple Leafs' powerpl...

Ben Ennis, Co-Host of The FAN Morning Show , joins JD Bunkis to discuss getting older than the current generation of professional athletes, Danny Jansen's injury, positioning the Blue Jays' defence, and the future of pro golf (00:00). JD then goes over the positive angles around the Maple Leafs; Mitch Marner's health, a notable Timothy Liljegren stat, balanced scoring, and Ilya Samsonov's sustaine...

JD opens chatting about the Raptors' ugly loss to the Pistons, before MLB.com 's Keegan Matheson checks-in from Blue Jays Spring Training to get into Bowden Francis' spot on the starting rotation, the process of getting Alek Manoah back in the rotation, why Yariel Rodriguez is his favourite off-season signing, the word on Jordan Romano, and other optimism in the Jays' bullpen (9:00). Scott Hartnel...