The JD Bunkis Podcast

JD and Jackie Redmond, from NHL on TNT, chop it up about the difference of watching sports as a fan versus in their usual media roles, before moving on to the lacklustre Maple leafs. JD and Jackie discuss what the Leafs have left to cling to, what prompted this Leafs era to fall apart, and why Leafs fans feel so emotionally charged. JD and Producer Brandon then discuss the Buffalo Bills promotion of Joe Brady as head coach. 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 Blake Murphy, co-host of The Raptors Show, react to the Raptors 11th straight loss to the New York Knicks. The duo discuss the biggest concerns for the Raptors as they try to compete with the upper-echelon of the Eastern Conference. Then, JD and Blake sift through what a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade would look like for the Raptors and what other centres may fit 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.

Former Toronto Raptor, Charlie Villanueva, joins JD Bunkis to talk about his time in Toronto, post-retirement career, the importance of veterans and chemistry in an NBA locker room, 2016 All-Star Weekend, plus Scottie Barnes and the key to Raptors success. JD and Producer Armen then discuss the Raptors' precarious situation heading into the trade deadline.  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 with his reaction to the Maple Leafs loss to the Buffalo Sabres and the feelings spurred by Darryl Sittler's ten-point game celebration. Justin Bourne from Real Kyper and Bourne joins JD to chat about the tough decisions and risk assessment the Leafs must now make. JD and Justin go through a list of Leafs players that they think the Leafs are better off keeping, or trying to get value back for.   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.

Ryan Whitney, co-host of Spittin' Chiclets, joins JD Bunkis to chat about how his thoughts on the Maple Leafs have changed, healthy locker room conversations before and after big games, the nuances of how Leafs fans feel disconnected with the team, the social media affect on athletes, Auston Matthews' relationship with American hockey fans, and how Team USA stacks up against Team Canada at the Olympics in Milan. 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.

Sportsnet's Ben Ennis and JD Bunkis react to William Nylander getting fined for his middle finger, the corporate atmosphere or culture around the Maple Leafs, the Blue Jays prospect pool and remaining MLB free agents, and things they get easily embarrassed by. 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 from The Athletic, gets into the Maple Leafs' negative indicators both on and off the ice. James and JD discuss options the Leafs front office should consider if their losing streak continues into the Olympic break, Craig Berube saying it wasn't his call for Anthony Stolarz to not play a game in the AHL before starting for the Leafs, and why Elliotte Freidman's report detailing that Auston Matthews agreed to re-signing with the Leafs two years before Matthews' was a free-agent, as long as the Leafs didn't fall way off the winning track, is relevant now. 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 horrid weekend for the Maple Leafs, before turning his attention the NFL playoffs. Brady Quinn, NFL analyst on FOX, breaks down (10:00) the missed opportunity for the Buffalo Bills, how the weather affected the New England Patriots victory, what the Pats proved or haven't proved on their way to a Super Bowl appearance, what the most pivotal coaching decisions were in both conference championship games, the fallout for the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos, and what makes Jaxon Smith-Njigba such a weapon. 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 Michael Grange joins JD Bunkis gives his insight on Bobby Webster's standing in his first season without Masai Ujiri, what questions the Raptors successful season has inspired, RJ Barrett's precarious situation and evaluation around the NBA, and the Raptors strategy heading into the trade deadline. JD then reacts to news on Anthony Stolarz, before the show ends with 'What We Missed! (34:00)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 back and forth regarding the potential boos in Mitch Marner's return to Toronto. Kris Versteeg, two-time Stanley Cup Champion, gets into different fan reactions that we've seen in the NHL, if Marner will receive a different reception further into the future, what contributed to fracturing Marner's relationship with Toronto. Later (31:00), JD and Versteeg talk about the packed NHL schedule in Olympic years and Jonathan Toews' return to Chicago. To end the hour, JD discusses his NFL picks for the weekend. 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 Bunkis to talk about the high-rates of overtime in the NHL, the Maple Leafs injury bug, Joseph Woll's vote of confidence, what to expect in Mitch Marner's return, and Brad Treliving kicking tires. 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 touches on the highest overtime rate in NHL's salary cap era. Former NFL quarterback, Brady Quinn, breaks down (10:00) the Buffalo Bills personnel decisions and their memorable press conference, why he thinks the Denver Broncos have a chance against the New England Patriots, Matthew Stafford's legacy and the biggest variables between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. 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 Luke Fox joins JD Bunkis to discuss the competitive Atlantic Division teams they believe in, their nerve level for the Maple Leafs after an underwhelming performance against the Minnesota Wild, plus injury complications with William Nylander and Matthew Knies. 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.  

Es Baraheni, host of NBA Daily at The Athletic, joins JD Bunkis after the Raptors' blow out win against the Golden State Warriors. JD and Es fantasize about Steph Curry, before analyzing what timeline the Raptors should operate under, RJ Barrett's looming contract question, and Bobby Webster's first trade deadline as the general manager. JD then looks ahead to Bo Bichette's introductory press conference with the New York Mets (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.

Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement joins JD Bunkis to talk about the Jays World Series run, Bo Bichette as a teammate and friend, his own rise in popularity, getting selected for Team USA to play in the World Baseball Classic, and his historic postseason production in 2025. 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.

Jim Bowden, MLB insider and former MLB general manager, joins JD Bunkis to analyze if the last few days of MLB free agency has increased the likelihood of a work stoppage, the benefits and drawbacks of a salary cap and salary floor, if and how the owners and players can come to a resolution. Plus, Jim explains how interested the Blue Jays were in re-signing Bo Bichette and what the tenor of the breakup may have been. Later, JD discusses the College Football National Championship. 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.  

Steve Palazzolo, host of Check the Mic, joins JD Bunkis to react to the breaking news of the Buffalo Bills firing head coach Sean McDermott. The pair analyzes the controversial interception call during the Bills' loss on Saturday, Josh Allen's volatile performance, the Denver Broncos' chances without Bo Nix, if Sam Darnold is up for the challenge against the Los Angeles Rams, CJ Stroud's disaster-class and future in Houston, if the Chicago Bears gave the game away. 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 Ennis joins JD in-studio to banter about the Blue Jays fall-out after missing out on Kyle Tucker and losing Bo Bichette. The duo reflect on the frustration of the Jays' Tucker pursuit, how Bichette's departure shook out, Bichette's tenure in Toronto and how the Jays 2026 roster compares to last season. 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 the Maple Leafs weekend tilt against the Winnipeg Jets is now infinitely more important. Next, with Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers in town to play the Raptors, JD speculates about the muted and complicated relationship between Toronto sports fans and Leonard. 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 Kyle Tucker's decision to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith contextualizes the Dodgers record-breaking offer to Tucker; why it's important to find out what the Blue Jays final offer was, if Bo Bichette is still available for the Jays, and if the Jays could pivot to the trade market. Later, JD and Ben also discuss if the Dodgers overpay for Tucker could become a tipping point in the MLB's next collective bargaining agreement and what Tarik Skubal's market could be. 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 Nick Kypreos joins JD Bunkis to share his thoughts ahead of the Maple Leafs' matchup against their former teammate, Mitch Marner. He discusses the stress-test that comes with playing Las Vegas and Marner, when would've been the best time for Marner's breakup with the Buds, and Toronto's current recipe for success. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (31:00) 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 latest reports about Kyle Tucker, before turning his attention to the divorce between Mitch Marner and the Maple Leafs. JD and Jackie Redmond (12:00), from the NHL on TNT, about what they're anticipating most as the Leafs get set to play Marner, how they hope the relationship between Auston Matthews and Marner plays out on the ice, how the Leafs have historically approached big games, and nuances of being a modern Leafs fan. 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.  

Frank Crupi, better known as "Hockey Illuminati", chops it up with JD about the biggest reasons the Maple Leafs season has turned around, what Leafs fans constantly desire, and what small gestures have helped fans embrace the team more. JD and Frank (28:00) get into how they feel and what they want to see as the Leafs face-off for the first time against Mitch Marner. 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 to dig into the latest reports linking Kyle Tucker to the Blue Jays. The duo weigh the contract options available to Tucker, what could ultimately sway Tucker to join Toronto, and if signing Tucker is a luxury or a necessity for the Jays. JD and Ben then compile a list of things they hate (34:00).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. 

Joseph Casciaro of theScore joins JD Bunkis to get into the Raptors' clutch play, Gradey Dick's usage and inconsistent season, Marc Stein's report about the Raptors front office feeling "win-now" pressure, and RJ Barrett's precarious situation. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (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.

JD explains how his thought about the Maple Leafs has changed because of the team's 10-game stretch. The Athletic's James Mirtle (9:00) chimes in on the Leafs' dramatic turn around, which players influenced the attitude change, how a Bobby McMann contract extension may play out, Dougie Hamilton's fit on the Leafs blue line, and the goaltending rotation with the return of Anthony Stolarz. JD then touches on another playoff loss for the Pittsburgh Steelers (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.

Jared Carrabis, co-host of the Baseball is Dead podcast, joins JD Bunkis live from Boston to discuss the shifting power dynamics in the American League East, the Red Sox losing Alex Bregman, and the Bo Bichette sweepstakes. JD then hits on an impressive comeback victory from the Raptors (26:00) , before 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 touches on the Maple Leafs dramatic turn around (00:00). Former NFL quarterback, Brady Quinn, gets into (7:00) the NFL's Wild Card weekend; if Justin Herbert deserves blame for the Chargers poor performance, the Patriots' identity and Super Bowl chances, Jalen Hurts' limitations, Nick Sirianni's job security, the Jaguars' blame pie, and the Bears-Packers classic. 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.  

Dave Dameshek, host of the Shek Show, joins JD Bunkis ahead of the NFL's Wild Card Weekend to answer one question about each of the matchups. JD also questions the Ottawa Senators social media strategy (49:15). 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 with his reaction to the Maple Leafs eight-game point streak. Mitch Bannon, Blue Jays beat reporter for The Athletic, discusses his report about the Jays being more aggressiveness for the pursuit of Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger's $30 million per season asking price, what Anthony Santander's trade market may look like, any surprises from the Jays deals that helped them avoid arbitration, and which players may be competing for playing time. JD then touches on the chaos in the college transfer portal, the high percentage of overtime results in the NHL, and his picks for NFL Wild Card Weekend (34:00).  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.  

Sam Hallam,  Head Coach of Sweden's national men's hockey team, joins JD Bunkis ahead of the 2026 Winter Games. Coach Hallam gets into how the 4 Nations Tournament helped Sweden prepare for the Olympics, if the smaller Olympic rinks will impact his gameplan, what went into the decision to select Oliver Ekman-Larsson to the Olympic roster, what William Nylander means to the Swedish hockey, what areas he feels Sweden can improve on, and what he views as the identity of Swedish hockey. Then, JD touches on RJ Barrett's importance to the Raptors, 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.  

Ben Ennis from The FAN Morning Show joins JD Bunkis to talk about their bucket list athletes and sporting events left to attend in-person. JD and Ben then shift gears to the Blue Jays to chat about the team's fan-favourites, the positional dynamic difference with Bo Bichette versus Kyle Tucker, and the push-and-pull with Tucker's free agency. 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 NFL Insider, Dan Graziano, joins JD Bunkis to offer his insights on the Baltimore Ravens firing John Harbaugh, Lamar Jackson's uncertain future and the rest of the coaching carousel in the NFL. Later (25:00), JD discusses the latest reports surrounding the Blue Jays' chase for Kyle Tucker. 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 opens with his reaction to Brad Marchand's media manipulation in Toronto. Kris Versteeg, two-time Stanley Cup champion, gives his thoughts (12:00) on Marchand, Zayne Parekh's comments about personality in hockey, Nick Robertson's improved play, how the Leafs are different without William Nylander, Matias Maccelli, the power play's success, and Auston Matthews' strong stretch of play. JD and Kris then switch gears (40:00) to youth hockey development in Canada. 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 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.