The JD Bunkis Podcast

Blake Murphy joins JD in-studio to get into any offseason Blue Jays thoughts he has, before switching gears to the Raptors. JD and Blake dive into their New Years resolutions for the Raptors, the pairing of Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, and which depth players are a part of the team's long-term plan. 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 reacts to the Raptors' win over the Hawks last night, before bringing on The Athletic's James Mirtle. JD and James dive into their biggest Maple Leafs storylines halfway through the season (12:00),  along with the most disappointing and most underrated aspects at the midway mark. Finally, JD shares his letter grades for each Maple Leaf on the roster (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. 

Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith analyzes the Blue Jays signing of Japanese free-agent Kazuma Okamoto. Ben discusses if Okamoto can be an everyday third baseman, who the Jays may look to trade to manage positional needs, and how the Okamoto signing impacts the Jays chase for Kyle Tucker or Bo Bichette.  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 reacts to Canada's semi-final loss at the World Juniors. Brady Quinn, NFL FOX analyst and former NFL quarterback, breaks down (10:00) the Pittsburgh Steelers dramatic win over the Baltimore Ravens, what may be in John Harbaugh's future, Kevin Stefanski's firing, the surging Seattle Seahawks, the surprising Carolina Panthers, and the bad look in college football. JD touches on Auston Matthews' passing Mats Sundin for the all-time Maple Leafs scoring record (47:00). 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 his Leafs Talk co-host, Sam McKee, catch up about Auston Matthews' recent uptick in production, the improved power play, increased pressure on Craig Berube and William Nylander, Chris Tanev's health and contract, the passion factor instilled in the Leafs' fan base, Troy Stecher's prized popularity, and Team Canada's Olympic hockey roster. 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 felt like a more casual sports fan during the holiday break, so he and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, chop it up about each Toronto sports team. JD and Ben get into the remaining business left in the Blue Jays offseason, what they make of the Raptors up and down season, and the post-Marc Savard Maple Leafs. JD then goes over some of the movies and shows he watched during the holidays (44:00). 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.  

Rick Bowness, who has coached the most games in NHL history, joins JD to discuss Craig Berube's post-game comments and explains a coaches perspective when dealing with a lack of compete level. Bowness details what a disconnected and lifeless team can do to turn the compete level up a notch, the nuances between being a first and second year coach, if a team can implement 'nastiness' when the leadership core doesn't have that in their game, what a coach yelling on the bench really means, and how to balance the fine line of competition. JD reacts to Bowness' comments and explains his confusion about the Leafs leadership group. The last show of 2025 ends 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 reacts to Craig Berube's post-game comments and thinks the Maple Leafs bench boss has reached a boiling point (00:00). James Palmer, NFL insider and co-host of Scoop City, breaks down (12:00) potentially the greatest Thursday night football game ever, the NFL's MVP race, Josh Allen's season, if he thinks the Kansas City Chiefs will take a step back before taking a step forward, and the biggest Week 16 questions. JD and Producer Armen wrap up with a chat about the Raptors being linked to more trade rumours (43:30). 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.

Justin Bourne of Real Kyper and Bourne joins JD get into the different mental and media approaches of athletes, Auston Matthews' relationship with fans, the challenges and benefits of a “reset” for the Maple Leafs, and the ever-evolving sport media landscape. 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 and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, chat about being a host during the holidays, Bo Bichette starting to tell teams he's open to moving to second base and what it means for the Blue Jays, their gut feelings remaining MLB free agents, and Kevin Durant's comments about his 2019 NBA Finals injury. 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 Woodley, "Goalie Guru" and writer for InGoal Magazine, joins JD to evaluate what he's seen from the Maple Leafs goaltenders; Anthony Stolarz, Joseph Woll, and Dennis Hildeby. Woodley details what he's liked from Woll this season, Hildeby's potential floor and ceiling, and how he viewed the goaltender swap of Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner. The show ends with 'What We Missed'! (34:30) 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 reacts to the Maple Leafs' poor performance through 40 minutes last night, and if their comeback against the Chicago Blackhawks meant anything (00:00). Jason Bukala, former professional scout and NHL analyst at Sportsnet, breaks down what he saw from the Leafs volatile play, what he's learned about the Leafs, Canada's outlook going into the World Juniors, and Gavin McKenna's opportunity to prove doubters wrong (12:00). JD then discusses the Red Sox' offseason and José Berríos' comments to MLB Network (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. 

Dallas Braden, former MLB pitcher and now co-host of the Baseball is Dead podcast, joins JD to break down what Dylan Cease brings, the challenges of adding a new pitch, how the Trajekt machine increases the importance of adding a new pitch, Cody Ponce's biggest challenge transitioning from overseas to the MLB, the potential clubhouse affect(s) caused by José Berríos not being with the team in the World Series, and Chris Bassitt as a teammate. 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 opens today's show reacting to Auston Matthews' comments at practice, before diving into what was supposed to be his comeback season and the idea of moving William Nylander to Matthews' line (00:00). Maple Leafs defensemen, Troy Stecher, joins the show to chat about his newfound success with the Leafs, and his relationships with Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe (15:00). JD and Producer Armen then chat about the Raptors win and the unofficial opening of the trade season (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.  

New Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, Dylan Cease, joins the show to get into his love for disc-golf, his free agency process that landed him with Toronto, what sold him about the Blue Jays, and how he's approaching his first season with the Jays. JD touches on Josh Allen's comeback and the Quinn Hughes trade (23:00), before hitting '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 reacts to the Blue Jays signing Tyler Rogers to their bullpen (00:00). Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith (10:00) explains how the Jays and Rogers came together, his impression of the contract, how he anticipates the Jays to strategize the rest of the off-season, the pace of the market for Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker, and the most likely scenario(s) for José Berríos. JD then touches on the Kansas City Chiefs officially being eliminated from playoff contention (44:00). 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 explains why he's not down on William Nylander's drought and his demotion to the third line, and details why he's backing the Maple Leafs attempt to spread their talent out more. JD and Producer Brandon then get into Sunday's big game between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots (13:00), as well as some other fun storylines from the NFL's Week 15 schedule, before ending the week 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 and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, chop it up about the New York Mets not being able to retain their free agents and how the effect may trickle down to the Blue Jays. They also compare Bo Bichette to Pete Alonso and Kyle Tucker, and debate what would happen if the Blue Jays miss out on their primary free-agent targets. Later (37:00), JD and Ben get into José Berríos' strange postseason absence from the team.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 analyze if Nick Robertson has increased his trade value, what statistics have bolstered the Maple Leafs success, if the Leafs should offer Troy Stecher a contract extension, Chris Tanev's recovery process, and the potential trickle down effects of Dennis Hildeby's impressive stretch of starts. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (43:00)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 free agency signings of Kyle Schwarber and Edwin Diaz (00:00). Steve Jones, co-host of The Dunker Spot podcast, joins JD to parse through what the Raptors really are (13:00). JD and Steve dive into the Raptors depth and how the league has caught up to their offensive scheme, if Brandon Ingram's heavy work load is sustainable, and the rotation battle between Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick and Ja'Kobe Walter.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.  

John Scott, eight-year NHL forward and host of Dropping the Gloves podcast, joins JD to discuss the NHL's Department of Player Safety having a hearing to debate a potential suspension for Bobby McMann, why he didn't panic about the Leafs during their slow start, Auston Matthews' impressive performance against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the impact of getting scratched as a healthy player. JD later explains why Nick Robertson would benefit from a new home (25:00), before Producer Armen lays out Shams Charania's report indicating the Raptors interest in Anthony Davis (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 Maple Leafs impressive win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jim Bowden, MLB Insider and former General Manager, (6:00) joins the show from the Winter Meetings in Florida to explain if the trade market is moving faster than free agency, the interest in Bo Bichette, what he's hearing about the Blue Jays' AL East counterparts, how Edwin Diaz stacks up against Robert Suarez, and what the Blue Jays could get in return for José Berríos. Then, JD shifts his attention to the Philadelphia Eagles and the lost confidence of Jalen Hurts (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.  

Two-time Stanley Cup champion, Kris Versteeg, joins JD to analyze why the Maple Leafs have found a better rhythm, the different strengths of Scott Laughton, why Troy Stecher has become so valuable with the Maple Leafs, where the Leafs have room for improvement, the nefarious nature of the Leafs injury timelines, the Leafs putrid powerplay and how they could fix it. The show then ends with '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 touches on the tilt between the Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning and the end of the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty. Brady Quinn, former NFL quarterback and analyst on FOX, joins JD (8:00) to explain why Notre Dame was left out of the College Football Playoffs, dish out the Chiefs blame pie, push back on the fourth down analytics, and share if he feels differently about the Buffalo Bills. JD then gets into the decline of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, before Producer Armen chats about the Raptors losing five of their last six games (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.

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.