The JD Bunkis Podcast

Luke Gazdic, Sportsnet NHL analyst, hops aboard alongside JD Bunkis to chat about Troy Stecher's past with the Edmonton Oilers, how the Maple Leafs third line is bolstering the team, and if modern coaching has become more challenging, before weighing some different types of coaching styles (00:00). Producer Brandon then joins JD for 'What We Missed!' (35:00)The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD and Producer Armen start the show talking about LeBron James' 10-point scoring streak ending in Toronto in the most poetic way. JD then shifts focus to the Maple Leafs and brings on (14:00) Jackie Redmond, from the NHL on TNT and WWE, to expand on Woll's injury, Troy Stecher being relatable, and Auston Matthews closing in on Mats Sundin's Leafs goal scoring record.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Kevin Kiermaier, former Toronto Blue Jay and 12-year MLB centrefielder, joins JD to discuss his goal to revolutionize outfield defense, if the Blue Jays influenced his post-playing career, his relationship with Daulton Varsho, what's attractive to free agents about Toronto and the Blue Jays, and his relationship with Kevin Pillar. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD reacts to reports of Giannis Antentekounmpo having discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks about his future. Bobby Marks, ESPN NBA front office insider, joins JD to get into the flattened Eastern Conference, how the Giannis sweepstakes can play out, and if Toronto's offer to Milwaukee would be competitive (10:00). Later, JD and Producer Armen then look ahead to the Los Angeles Lakers coming to town (35:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins JD to discuss Cody Ponce's track record, how good he can be in MLB, if former Blue Jay Hyun Jin-Ryu had an impact, how the Jays are scouting in the Pacific rim, the Jays' overloaded starting rotation, Jose Berrios' standing on the rotation, if the Ponce signing signals the departure of Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer and how that may impact the team, predicting Eric Lauer's role with the team moving forward, the remaining relief market, and the latest on Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (40:00)The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD reacts to the wins from the Maple Leafs and Raptors, before bringing on James Mirtle (12:00), senior writer from The Athletic. JD and James get into the Leafs' best performance of their season, if they're buying stock in the third line after their encouraging performance, why Scott Laughton's presence has made a difference, Troy Stecher's surprising impact, the Leafs poor powerplay, Auston Matthews' play and Brandon Carlo's timeline. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Mike Futa, co-host of The FAN Hockey Show, joins JD in-studio to get into real litmus tests, the bar for the Maple Leafs, how executives apply what they see on the ice into boardroom conversations, which Maple Leafs would garner value in the trade market, and how to plan a to pitch a rebuild to ownership. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (39:30) The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, joins JD in-studio to chop it up about Brad Marchand's trolling, modern rivalries, Devin Williams signing with the New York Mets, the remaining market for pitchers, and the ever-strong American League East. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Matthew Barnaby, 14-year NHL forward, joins JD to discuss how much defence can be improved mid-season, if the Maple Leafs next game is their biggest litmus test yet, how to evaluate the Leafs next stretch, and Dakota Joshua's bounce-back performance after being a healthy scratch (00:00). Later, JD weighs where the Leafs season is at and compares them to the Edmonton Oilers, before wrapping up with 'What We Missed!' (26:00)The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD looks over the up-and-down weekend for the Maple Leafs and Raptors (00:00). Former NFL quarterback, Brady Quinn, joins JD (10:00) to analyze the suddenly surging Dallas Cowboys, Ben Johnson maximizing the first-placed Chicago Bears, the Philadelphia Eagles' dysfunction, what team is this safest bet to fall off, why the Buffalo Bills have no excuse, and Shedeur Sanders' performance. JD then touches on the Blue Jays pursuit for a leverage reliever. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

The Athletic's James Mirtle joins JD to dive into the uptick of injuries in the NHL; if it's impacting the product and how it compares to other leagues. Then, JD and James discuss Dakota Joshua's scratch and reemergence in the lineup, how to productively shake up the lines, and what the Leafs' case is for getting involved in the bubbling trade market. JD and Producer Armen hit 'What We Missed!' (36:00)The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD lays out his Black Friday gripe (00:00). Raptors play by play voice, Eric Smith, joins JD to discuss his new book 'We the Raptors', and chat about which past version of the Raptors the current Raptors team reminds him of, what's gone into the Raptors winning ways so far this season, and how Darko Rajakovic has put his imprint on the team (8:00). JD and {Producer Brandon then get into the NFL's American Thanksgiving action (37:30). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins JD to dive deeper into the Blue Jays signing Dylan Cease; how is this signing on-brand with the Jays strategy? What is Cease's value and expectation? What are the advantages of jumping the free-agenct market? Why is the transofmred starting rotation in a good position? And, what's next on the off-season priority list?The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD and Ben Ennis, from The FAN Morning Show, react to the Blue Jays signing starting pitcher Dylan Cease. The good hour duo discuss what Cease brings to the Jays, compare him to past starting pitchers the Jays have signed, what this signals about the Jays ownership and front office off-season plans. After, the guys bring up the worst contracts in Toronto sports history (40:00).The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Matt Bonner, former Raptor and co-host of The Raptors Show, and JD chat about the Raptors winning streak, Nikola Jokic's greatness, Chris Paul's legacy, and how the point guard position has changed (00:00).  The show ends with 'What We Missed!' The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD mulls over the rising frequency of injuries before bringing on Nick Kypreos, from the Real Kyper and Bourne, to get into Auston Matthews' injury reporting, how the teams injury concerns have changed since Craig Berube took over, and Nick's trade board on Sportsnet.ca. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. 

JD sifts through Auston Matthews' career, why this is Matthews' hinge moment, and the perception of him in the Toronto market. JD and Producer Armen then continue the Raptors conversation before getting into Don Mattingly's comments on the infamous game 7 play, and the comments made by Tatsuya Imai and Hal Steinbrenner. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD reacts to the Raptors winning their eighth straight victory. Sportsnets Michael Grange joins JD (9:00) to analyze how real this stretch of Raptors basketball is, what's surprised him about Brandon Ingram and the team cohesion, RJ Barrett's role in culture setting, how Scottie Barnes' has grown as a leader, and Jamal Shead's impact of winning. JD closes the hour talking about another underwhelming stand-alone game in the NFL. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.   

Kris Versteeg, two-time Stanley Cup champion, joins JD to dive into the Maple Leafs culture and what is contributing to their losing ways (00:00). JD and Kris discuss the Leafs' lack of pointed emotion, if and how they are missing Mitch Marner, the coaching bluepint, working the injuries, and why Auston Matthews is facing the most pressure in his career. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (38:00).The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD reacts to the Maple Leafs sitting last in the Eastern Conference standings (00:00). FOX NFL analyst, Brady Quinnn, joins JD (10:00) to chat about what team changed his opinion the most in week 12, if the Kansas City Chiefs are still one of the best teams, the concern level for the Philidelphia Eagles, Matthew Stafford turning back the clock, if the window has closed on the Detroit Lions, and questionable coaching decisions. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.    

MLB Insider, Robert Murray, joins JD to break down what feels different this season about the Blue Jays off-season pursuits (00:00). Robert gets into the pace of the MLB off-season news, why some quality free agents are signing early, high-leverage solutions for the Blue Jays, Framber Valdez's make-up, and the sweepstakes for Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (40:00) The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.   

JD reacts to the secretive nature of the Maple Leafs injury reports. Justin Bourne, from The Real Kyper & Bourne, joins JD to debate if the Maple Leafs are working themselves out of a funk, Joseph Woll's return, Easton Cowan's improved performance, if the Leafs are too slow to fix, and if Craig Berube's system matches the roster personnel. JD ends the hour talking about the "soft" at Bills. (42:00)The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Jackie Redmond of NHL on TNT and WWE Network , joins JD to chat about the potential positives from the Maple Leafs season, how accountability plays out, the biggest issues with the Leafs, Cam Skattebo, and everyone in sports having a podcast (00:00). The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (35:00) The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. 

Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, joins JD Bunkis in-studio to chat about the Raptors on the heels of their fifth-straight win. They dive into how quickly the page was turned on Nick Nurse and discuss Scottie Barnes' popularity in Toronto. Later, the guys find ways to try to get over their World Series depression, and look at the Blue Jays' chase for a big fish this offseason. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Jim Bowden, former Executive of the Year and current MLB insider, joins JD to dive into the Blue Jays offseason intentions, which big name free agents could land in Toronto, the chase for Bo Bichette and what it means if he returns or leaves, what he makes of players opting-in, how personality fit affects strategies, Tarik Skubal's standing with the Detroit Tigers, and the looming collective bargaining negotiations. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (35:00)The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD open with his reaction to some MLB free agency news, before looking into Brad Treliving's address to Maple Leafs Nation. The Athletic's James Mirtle gives his takeaways from Treliving's press conference and discusses the heat on Auston Matthews, Joseph Woll's performance, Matthew Knies' injury and the Leafs short-term outlook (14:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Blake Murphy from The Raptors Show joins JD in-studio to chat about MLB free agency before turning their attention to the Raptors (00:00).  JD and Blake chat about the Raptors win against the Charlotte Hornets, Brandon Ingram's fit on the offensive end, the biggest surprise of the early season, and Gradey Dick's underwhelming season. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD wonders how the Maple Leafs will respond after losing five-straight ahead of tonight's matchup against Craig Berube's former team (00:00). Andy Strickland, St. Louis Blues reporter and co-host of The Cam & Strick Podcast, joins JD to get into why the Blues fired Berube in the middle of the 2023-24 season, the desperation of firing a coach mid-season, and the latest on Jordan Kyrou and Doug Armstrong (14:00). The first hour ends with JD's thoughts on the weird discourse surrounding Sheduer Sanders (45:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. 

Jason Bukala, Sportsnet NHL analyst and former NHL scout, breaks down Easton Cowan's start with the Maple Leafs; how the Leafs rough start affects Cowan, if he should be on the top powerplay unit, and if the Leafs should be cautious about entitlement. JD and Jason also discuss how to quell the litany of problems the Leafs are facing (20:00). The show ends with 'What We Missed!" (40:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD touches on the 112th Grey Cup and CFL culture, before moving to the NFL with former NFL quarterback and our Monday morning insider, Brady Quinn (10:00). JD asks Brady about who the best teams in the NFL are, the identity inconsistency across the NFL, if any teams changed his mind in Week 11, what the Kansas City Chiefs need to realize, Sam Darnold's volatile play, the Detroit Lions' offensive failures, and other faulty teams. JD closes the hour reacting to Islam Makhachev's win at UFC 322 (49:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Sportsnet MLB writer, Ben Nicholson-Smith, joins JD to go over the American League MVP voting and the criteria that baseball writers lean on (00:00). Then (10:31), JD and Ben get into Blue Jays free agency; if their chase for free-agents feels materially different, what they absolutely need, what positional need they'll look to address first, Jose Berrios' standing going into next season and the names they are rumoured to have interest in. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD wonders how this year Blue Jays offseason may be different from years past and touches on the rumours of the Maple Leafs courting Rasmus Andersson (00:00). Sportsnet NHL writer, Luke Fox, discusses the biggest problems with the Maple Leafs, how a lack of accountability is playing out, bringing back Joseph Woll, Bobby McMann's improved play and the lacklustre impact from the new players (12:00). Next, JD says what he liked best about the Raptors statement win over the Cleveland Cavaliers (39:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Stanley Cup Champion and 19-year NHL forward, Patrice Bergeron, joins the show to discuss what culture and accountability really mean and how they're built, getting to a level in the NHL where you have a voice in the locker room, navigating pressure, and Sidney Crosby's impact on Hockey Canada. JD then relays Bergeron's thoughts into the local market (30:00). The show ends with 'What We Missed!' The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD lays out his thoughts about Auston Matthews' injury and how the Maple Leafs might go about handling it (00:00). NHL analyst and fomer NHL forward, Colby Armstrong, hops on with JD (8:00) to chat about Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and their potential fits on Canada's Olympic hockey roster. JD asks Colby (25:00) if he sees the Leafs improving and about his travelling diet. JD explains why he thinks Matthew Knies might be the person the Leafs should lean on and reacts to the Leafs recalling Artur Akhtyamov.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

ESPN Front Office Insider, Bobby Marks, joins JD to get into some disastrous situations across the NBA (00:00). Bobby explains why the Dallas Mavericks decided now was the time to fire General Manager Nico Harrison, if the trade market will percolate more this season, and the tricky situations with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers. JD and Bobby then chat about the Raptors and where they stand among the open, yet pesky, Eastern Conference (28:00). The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (39:00) The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD weighs where the Maple Leafs are at after their third consecutive loss. Kris Versteeg, two-time Stanley Cup Champion, joins JD (10:00) to break down what's structurally wrong with the Leafs, what might be off with the coaching, and the dire situation at the centre position. JD and Versteeg also discuss Nikita Zadorov's hit on Auston Matthews and Duncan Keith's legacy. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins JD to analyze the MLB free agency market; the pace of information, what names on the market might cause a domino effect, why the Blue Jays are in a unique position, Bo Bichette being a priority but not the priority, how the Jays position puzzle may come together, how the team could explore the trade market, and the state of the starting rotation. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (38:30) The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, air out some Toronto sports bar gripes, before turning their attention to MLB free agency. The Good Hour duo (14:00) describe why the Los Angeles Dodgers are the real evil empire, as JD announces that the Dodgers have passed the New York Yankees on his most-hated list. Next, JD and Ben sift through the MLB rumour mill, including if they believe in the momentum linking All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Blue Jays (30:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

James Mirtle, senior writer at The Athletic, joins JD to dive into the pool of problems with the Maple Leafs (00:00). JD and James try to discern what the team's identity is, what the eye test and analytics is telling them about Toronto's poor defense, who deserves a slice of the blame pie and why, what the reason(s) for optimism are, and the strong play from John Tavares, William Nylander, Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (33:00) The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. 

JD reacts to the ugly weekend of hockey from the Maple Leafs (00:00). Brady Quinn, FOX NFL analyst and former NFL quarterback, helps JD (10:00) decipher teams who are contenders or pretenders, the Buffalo Bills brutal loss to the Miami Dolphins, different head coaching styles and what works in the modern game, Aaron Rodgers' reluctance to get hit, and JD's Seattle Seahawks. JD then offers a subtle warning to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

Shi Davidi, Sportsnet's senior MLB columnist, joins JD to reflect on the comments from Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins and offers his read on why the President and General Manager didn't offer many meaningful thoughts (11:00). JD asks Shi about potential parallels between signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, what may sway Bichette, if the Jays payroll is expected to grow, Shane Bieber opting in, not being married to Jeff Hoffman as the closer in 2026, and which of the Jays starting pitchers may play a role next season. JD ends the week with his thoughts on the new Hockey Canada jerseys. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.    

JD reacts to Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins speaking to the media. Ariel Helwani joins JD (7:00) to go through his sports trauma, why he's bitter about the Dodgers victory lap, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's probe on fight-fixing in the UFC. Next, JD gets into what he thought were the most important comments made at the conference by Shapiro and Atkins (36:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.