The FAN Pregame - podcast cover

The FAN Pregame

Sportsnetwww.sportsnet.ca
Get ready for tonight's games with Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert as they discuss the stories that matter most to sports fans. Airing live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN weekdays from 6pm-7pm ET.
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Episodes

Un-Be-Leaf-Able!

Do you Be-Leaf?! Ailish and Justin discuss the Maple Leafs’ enthralling comeback win over the Lightning on Monday night, Toronto stealing two games in Tampa, if this Leafs team feels different, Andrei Vasilevskiy’s struggles in this series, Matthew Knies emerging as a trustworthy option for Sheldon Keefe, the Leafs’ Michael Bunting conundrum, Alex Kerfoot’s OT heroics, Auston Matthews igniting the Leafs’ third-period comeback, and Keefe’s line juggling. Later, Ailish presents a mini edition of t...

Apr 25, 202352 min

Raptors Culture Reset? w/ Will Lou + The O’Reilly Factor w/ Anthony Stewart

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show , Ailish and Justin are joined by William Lou, host of The Raptors Show , to discuss Nick Nurse’s dismissal, his takeaways from Masai Ujiri’s press conference, the Raptors’ eroding culture, the team’s glaring personnel flaws, and potential candidates to replace Nurse. Later, Anthony Stewart, former NHL forward and current Sportsnet analyst, stops by to chat about the Leafs’ keys to victory in Game 4, Toronto’s balanced contributions throughout their lineup, how ...

Apr 24, 202347 min

Keefe-Cooper Gamesmanship w/ Frank Seravalli + Your Calls!

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show , Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli stops by to discuss the Leafs’ gutsy Game 3 win, why tonight’s showdown will be Toronto’s real test, the gamesmanship between Sheldon Keefe and Jon Cooper, the officiating league-wide, Michael Bunting’s impending return, Andrei Vasilevskiy’s performance throughout the series, Ryan O’Reilly’s profound impact on this Leafs team, and Edmonton’s crucial comeback in Los Angeles. Later, we open the phone lines to take your calls ahead...

Apr 24, 202351 min

Leafs "Steal" Game 3 + Raptors Fire Nurse

Happy Monday! Ailish and Justin discuss the Maple Leafs’ thrilling OT win over the Lightning in Game 3, Toronto finally “stealing'' a game in the post-season, Kyle Dubas exchanging words with fans, Morgan Rielly’s hit on Brayden Point, Keefe’s comments about Tampa “manipulating” the officials, Luke Schenn elevating his game, Ryan O’Reilly being a major factor in the Leafs’ two wins, and Ilya Samsonov’s outstanding Game 3 performance. Afterwards, Ailish and Justin weigh in on the Raptors’ firing ...

Apr 24, 202350 min

Rielly’s Big Night w/ Craig Simpson + Wake and Rake!

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show , Ailish and Justin are joined by Craig Simpson, former NHL forward and current Sportsnet colour analyst, to discuss the Leafs’ response in Game 2, the team’s stars rising to the occasion, Morgan Rielly’s standout performance, and Sheldon Keefe’s key coaching decisions on Thursday night. Later, former NHL defenceman Chris Pronger stops by to chat about Matthew Knies’ playoff debut, Ryan O’Reilly’s value, Michael Bunting’s 3-game suspension, and Tampa’s depleted ...

Apr 21, 202348 min

Keefe Masterclass? w/ Sam McKee + The Legend of Yellow Hoodie Guy

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show , Sam McKee, producer of Real Kyper and Bourne , stops by to discuss the Leafs’ bounce back win in Game 2, Toronto exploiting Tampa’s injury-riddled d-core, the legend of yellow hoodie guy, Toronto’s core group stepping up, Sheldon Keefe’s Game 2 adjustments, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly elevating their game, and Justin Holl’s mercurial reputation among Leaf fans. Afterwards, we take your calls to gauge the pulse of Leafs Nation after a big Game 2 win (28:57)....

Apr 21, 202346 min

All Even: Leafs Fire Back in Game 2!

Happy Friday! Ailish and Justin kick off the show by discussing the Maple Leafs’ 7-2 win over the Lightning in Game 2, the atmosphere inside Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, Toronto’s fast start, Sheldon Keefe’s lineup adjustments, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly elevating their play, Ryan O’Reilly’s calming presence, Tampa’s depleted blue line, and Ilya Samsonov’s bounce back performance. Afterwards, they weigh in on Michael Grange’s piece about Masai Ujiri and the lengthy delay before his season-e...

Apr 21, 202353 min

Pressure Index in the Pressure Cooker w/ Mike Rupp + Wake and Rake!

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show , Mike Rupp, former NHL forward and current NHL Network analyst, stops by to discuss the Maple Leafs’ Game 1 letdown, Tampa’s bottom six imposing their will in the series opener, Ryan O’Reilly’s calming influence, Matthew Knies being thrust into a playoff situation, the length of Michael Bunting’s suspension, and Florida evening their series against the Bruins. Later, Ailish and Justin discuss which Leafs players are facing the most pressure heading into tonight...

Apr 20, 202350 min

Punting on Bunting? w/ Brent Gunning

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show , Brent Gunning, co-host of Leafs Nation , stops by to discuss the vitriol surrounding Michael Bunting, if Bunting has played himself out of a contract extension this summer, parallels to Nazem Kadri, the Leafs’ propensity for slow starts, Sheldon Keefe’s line tinkering, Ilya Samsonov’s shaky Game 1, and how Toronto can exploit Tampa’s depleted blue line. Later, Ailish and Justin are joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith to chat about Alek Manoah’s early-sea...

Apr 20, 202346 min

Bunting Suspended + Will the Leafs' Stars Show Up?

It’s Leafs playoff game day! Ailish and Justin discuss Michael Bunting being assessed a 3-game suspension for his hit to the head on Erik Cernak, if the punishment is warranted, Sheldon Keefe unveiling new-look lines at Wednesday’s practice, Matthew Knies’ projected insertion into the lineup, the Leafs’ heir of complacency and arrogance, Ilya Samsonov’s history of playoff struggles, the pressure facing Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and the Blue Jays’ 8-1 loss in Houston. Later, Ailish presen...

Apr 20, 202352 min

Should Samsonov Start Game 2? w/ Nick Kypreos + Wake and Rake!

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show , Nick Kypreos stops by to discuss the Maple Leafs’ slow start in Game 1, Sheldon Keefe’s level of culpability for last night’s loss, potential lineup changes and tactical adjustments for Game 2, Ilya Samsonov’s shaky performance, and Ryan O’Reilly’s calming influence. Afterwards, Ailish and Justin are joined by Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman to chat about Toronto's win over the Astros on Tuesday, Chris Bassitt’s impressive outing, the state of the Jay...

Apr 19, 202348 min

Bunting Suspension? w/ Jeff Marek + Leafs Therapy Hotline

Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show kicks off with Jeff Marek stopping by to discuss the Maple Leafs falling flat in Game 1 against Tampa, Michael Bunting’s hit on Erik Cernak and the likelihood of a suspension, Matthew Knies’ potential insertion into the lineup, and the false narrative surrounding Wes McCauley. Later, we take your calls to gauge the pulse of Leafs Nation after the team’s series-opening loss (27:48). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests a...

Apr 19, 202348 min

Leafs Game 1 Calamity

Here we go again. On Hour 1 of The FAN Morning Show , Ailish and Justin discuss the Maple Leafs’ 7-3 blowout loss to the Lightning in Game 1, the emotional letdown for fans inside Scotiabank Arena, Michael Bunting’s ejection for his high hit on Erik Cernak, the officiating in last night’s game, concerns about the Leafs’ blue line, and Sheldon Keefe’s impending lineup conundrum for Game 2. Later, Ailish presents her daily edition of the A-List (46:06)! The views and opinions expressed in this pod...

Apr 19, 202352 min

Playoff Vibe Check w/ Steve Dangle + Leafs Legend Tomas Kaberle!

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show , Steve Dangle checks in to discuss his emotions heading into the Leafs’ series opener against Tampa, the Leafs’ biggest improvements compared to last year, Tampa’s biggest vulnerabilities, the pressure on Toronto’s core four, and the goaltending matchup between Ilya Samsonov and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Afterwards, Ailish and Justin are joined by former Leafs defenceman Tomas Kaberle to chat about his experience playing playoff hockey in Toronto, his relationship wi...

Apr 18, 202349 min

Keefe’s Playoff Test w/ Luke Fox + Your Calls!

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show , Luke Fox stops by to discuss Sheldon Keefe’s lineup decisions for Game 1, Timothy Liljegren’s omission on the blue line, Keefe’s history of being out-coached in the playoffs, John Tavares’ fit on the wing, Tampa’s sluggish conclusion to the regular season, and the biggest difference between this year’s Leafs team and those of years’ past. Later, we take your calls to gauge the tenor of Leafs Nation ahead of Game 1 (27:48). The views and opinions expressed in t...

Apr 18, 202348 min

Playoff Time in Leafs Land!

It’s Leafs playoff game day! Ailish and Justin discuss their biggest takeaways from the opening night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kevin Gausman’s abysmal outing in Houston, and the Blue Jays’ trend of slow starts. Afterwards, Ailish and Justin weigh in on the Leafs’ projected Game 1 lineup against Tampa and outline their three keys for the series. Later, we close out the hour with Ailish’s daily edition of the A-List (41:56). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hos...

Apr 18, 202351 min

Leafs-Lightning 2.0 w/ Dave Andreychuk + Wake and Rake!

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show , Lightning TV analyst and Hockey Hall of Famer Dave Andreychuk gets us set for this year's battle between Toronto and Tampa Bay, and highlights the Bolts' struggles coming into the playoffs, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Victor Hedman's recent form, and how the Leafs stack up over seven games. Later on, it's time for the Wake and Rake (27:43)! Ailish and Justin tee up tonight's best bets and assemble our daily Wake and Rake parlay with the help of the text-line. The v...

Apr 17, 202347 min

Dubas-Shanahan Friction? w/ Frank Seravalli

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show , Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli stops by to discuss his latest reporting on the relationship between Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan, Dubas’ future beyond these playoffs, the Penguins’ front office changes, the current head coaching vacancies around the NHL, and Tampa’s inconsistency since the New Year. Later, Ailish and Justin complete their own playoff brackets (36:31)! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do...

Apr 17, 202350 min

Uh Oh, Manoah + Leafs Tarot Card Reading

Happy Monday! Ailish and Justin discuss Canada’s loss to the United States in the gold medal game at the Women’s World Championship, what it means for the team going forward, the Blue Jays taking 2 of 3 against the Rays this weekend, Alek Manoah’s early-season struggles, and Matthew Knies’ likely omission from the Maple Leafs’ Game 1 playoff lineup. Later, after much anticipation, Ailish and Justin present a pre-playoffs Tarot Card reading for the Maple Leafs. And, well, the results were rather ...

Apr 17, 202350 min

Raptors Post-Mortem w/ Alex Wong + Wake and Rake!

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show , Alex Wong stops by to discuss the Raptors’ disappointing season, his takeaways from yesterday’s season-ending media availability, Nick Nurse’s uncertain future, the team’s top priorities this off-season, and Kyle Lowry squaring off against DeMar DeRozan in the NBA Play-In game. Afterwards, it’s time for the Wake and Rake (27:32)! Jonathan Von Tobel, senior NBA betting analyst for VSIN, checks in from Vegas to tee up the opening round of the NBA playoffs. Then,...

Apr 14, 202348 min

Matthews’ Future and Knies’ Playoff Fit w/ Nick Kypreos

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show , Nick Kypreos of Real Kyper and Bourne checks in to discuss Mitch Marner falling short of the 100-point mark, his latest column on Auston Matthews’ future, the Penguins’ reputed interest in Kyle Dubas, Matthew Knies’ playoff fit, and Jake McCabe’s importance to the blue line. Later, Ailish and Justin are joined by Rich Hollenberg, Rays studio host for Bally Sports, to chat about Tampa’s historic 13-0 start, their record-setting production at the plate, Kevin Ki...

Apr 14, 202348 min

Marner Misses 100 + Can the Raptors Forge a New Identity?

Happy Friday! Ailish and Justin discuss Canada avoiding an upset against Sweden at the Women’s World Championship, Jonathan Toews’ farewell in Chicago, William Nylander reaching the 40-goal plateau, and Mitch Marner missing out on 100 points. Then, they weigh in on Fred VanVleet’s comments about the Raptors’ need for a new identity and Nick Nurse trying to pour cold water on reports of his potential departure. Later, Ailish presents her daily edition of the A-List (47:12)! The views and opinions...

Apr 14, 202351 min

Is Kevin Gausman Underrated? w/ Chris Russo + Wake and Rake!

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show , Ailish and Justin are joined by Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, co-host of High Heat , to discuss the Raptors’ second-half collapse against the Bulls, the team’s lack of a true superstar, his early impressions of the Blue Jays, Kevin Gausman’s place among the top pitchers in baseball, and Shohei Ohtani’s future with the Angels. Later, it’s time for the Wake and Rake (26:20)! Ailish and Justin tee up tonight’s Leafs-Rangers game and assemble our daily Wake and Rake parl...

Apr 13, 202346 min

Raptors Apathy w/ Katie Heindl + Your Calls!

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show , Ailish and Justin are joined by Katie Heindl to discuss the Raptors’ Play-In loss to the Bulls, Diar DeRozan becoming a viral sensation, what comes next for Nick Nurse, the connectivity issues among the players, Scottie Barnes’ sophomore season, and the team’s looming roster decisions. Later, we take your calls to gauge the mood in Raptors land (29:55). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily re...

Apr 13, 202351 min

Raptors Play-In Letdown + What Comes Next?

Happy Baby Friday! Ailish and Justin kick off the show by discussing the Raptors’ loss to the Bulls in the play-in game, Toronto’s woeful free throw shooting, Diar DeRozan’s viral screaming on every Raptors foul shot, Zach LaVine’s monstrous second half, Nick Nurse’s potential exit, and the litany of questions heading into the off-season. Afterwards, they weigh in on the Blue Jays’ walk off win over the Tigers and the Leafs’ regular-season finale against the Rangers on Thursday. Later, Ailish pr...

Apr 13, 202351 min

Red-Hot Kiermaier and Vlad’s Contract w/ Shi Davidi + Wake and Rake!

Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show kicks off with Shi Davidi stopping by to discuss Alek Manoah’s command issues, Kevin Kiermaier’s emergence as a fan favourite, how the new Rogers Centre dimensions will impact the action on the field, and the latest intel surrounding Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract talks with the Blue Jays. Afterwards, it’s time for the Wake and Rake (22:43)! Ailish and Justin select their teams for this week’s edition of The FANEx Cup and tee up tonight’s Raptors-Bulls matchup. T...

Apr 12, 202346 min

NHL Playoff Picture Takes Shape + Greeny's Play-In Picks!

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show , Jeff Marek hops aboard to update the NHL playoff picture, before diving into the Maple Leafs' roster management down the stretch, the upcoming knockout stage at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, and the NHL's venture down under! Later on, ESPN's Mike Greenberg joins the program to chat about the job ahead for Masai Ujiri and the Raptors' front office, what the future holds for Nick Nurse, who has the edge in tonight's Thunder-Pelicans Play-In matchup, if th...

Apr 12, 202349 min

Home(r) Opener, Feisty Leafs, and Raptors Play-In Day

Happy Hump Day! Ailish and Justin kick off the show by discussing the Blue Jays’ 9-3 win over the Tigers in their home opener, Kevin Kiermaier’s spectacular home run-robbing catch, first impressions of the new Rogers Centre outfield, and Alek Manoah’s slow start to the season. Afterwards, they weigh in on the Maple Leafs’ 4-3 win over the Lightning, the physicality between the two teams, and the Raptors’ play-in matchup against the Bulls. Later, Ailish presents her daily edition of the A-List (4...

Apr 12, 202352 min

Home Sweet Home w/ Caleb Joseph + Wake and Rake!

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show , former Blue Jays catcher Caleb Joseph checks in to discuss his first impressions of the renovations at Rogers Centre, the new outfield configuration, how catchers are adjusting to MLB’s rule changes, early returns on the Jays’ starting rotation, and the team’s more balanced offensive approach. Later, Ailish and Justin tee up the betting lines for tonight’s Blue Jays-Tigers game and assemble our daily Wake and Rake parlay (31:11)! The views and opinions express...

Apr 11, 202348 min

Can Knies Crack the Leafs’ Playoff Lineup? w/ Jason Bukala

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show , Sportsnet's Jason Bukala stops by to discuss Matthew Knies’ NHL debut, his potential utility for the Leafs’ upcoming playoff run, standout prospects from the NCAA Frozen Four, Adam Fantilli solidifying himself as the No. 2 player in this year’s draft class, and the best roster fit for Connor Bedard. Later, Ailish and Justin are joined by ESPN’s Bobby Marks to chat about the Raptors’ underwhelming regular season, Nick Nurse’s uncertain future, and some of the m...

Apr 11, 202348 min
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