JD explains what he was thinking at Rogers Centre as the Philadelphia Phillies lit up Bowden Francis (00:00). Sean Avery, 10-year NHL forward and author of Summer Skate, discusses what inspired him to write a book, the state-tax debate in NHL circles, the "pests" and "dogs" in playoff hockey, Corey Perry, Brad Marchand, the Maple Leafs identity and if Sam Bennett would change it (10:00). JD ends with thoughts on the high stakes in the Stanley Cup Final and the Raptors' chance at landing Giannis ...
Jun 04, 2025•48 min
JD explains why he's buying the rumours tying Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Toronto Raptors (00:00). Colby Armstrong, NHL analyst for Sportsnet and the NHL on TNT, joins JD (14:00) to catch up and chat about their biggest points of interest heading into the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. 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.
Jun 03, 2025•49 min
JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show , discuss Addison Barger's breakout and the Blue Jays' homerun-happy weekend (00:00). Is Barger the story of the Jays season so far? What's different between Davis Schneider's spark in 2023 versus Barger's now? Should umpires be held more accountable? Later, JD and Ben chat about Pascal Siakam winning Eastern Conference Finals MVP and revisit the Raptors trading him away (32:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the h...
Jun 02, 2025•49 min
JD explains his admiration for the Edmonton Oilers, before illustrating his offseason Maple Leafs thoughts following Brad Treliving's comments regarding Mitch Marner, John Tavares, team DNA, culture, and the Florida Panthers. Dallas Braden, former MLB pitcher and Athletics colour analyst, breaks down the importance of team identity, divisional success, Chris Bassitt's career longevity, and if we'll see starting pitchers like him in the future (20:00). The views and opinions expressed in this pod...
May 30, 2025•47 min
Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving speaks with the media at Scotiabank Arena (2:00) and JD reacts (40:00) on the other side. 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.
May 29, 2025•54 min
JD explains why the Toronto market pressure discourse is overblown and previews what Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving will have to address this morning (00:00). Sportsnet Blue Jays reporter Ben Nicholson-Smith joins JD to discuss Bo Bichette's comfort level, how the Jays' pitching is carrying the load, why the team seems hesitant to put Anthony Santander in the injured list, and what could be next for Santander (16:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the ...
May 29, 2025•48 min
JD weighs the effectiveness of the Stanley Cup Playoffs format (00:00). Keegan Matheson, Blue Jays reporter with MLB.com and author of "The Franchise: Toronto Blue Jays: A Curated History", joins JD to discuss his book and try to make sense of Anthony Santander's painfully slow start, the Jays identity, and the back-end of the starting rotation (10:00). JD reacts to the New York Knicks failure in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals (43:30). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast ar...
May 28, 2025•49 min
JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show , debate if Daulton Varsho is the most important player on the Blue Jays and how to feel about Anthony Santander's slow start. Later (36:00), the duo banter about a couple sports trends on social media, before turning their attention to Keith Pelley addressing the gap between the Maple Leafs and their fans. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Spor...
May 27, 2025•49 min
JD is joined by NHL writer James Mirtle from The Athletic to analyze if the Maple Leafs should take anything away from the Florida Panthers drubbing of the Carolina Hurricanes, which team makes the most sense for Mitch Marner, what we learned from Keith Pelley's media conference, the off-season decisions that will shape the Leafs future roster, and what a Matthew Knies' extensions couild look like (00:00). JD closes the show reacting to the New York Knicks 20-point comeback in game 3 (45:00). Th...
May 26, 2025•49 min
David Pagnotta, Editor in Chief of The Fourth Period, analyzes if the choice to let Brendan Shanahan walk was easy, what a new club president might mean, if there is awareness in the Leafs brass that the culture needs changes, and the Leafs' looming contract negotiations with Matthew Knies and John Tavares (00:00). Zach Harper, NBA writer at The Athletic, joins JD to discuss the Oklahoma City Thunder trending towards becoming the champions, the NBA's failure at selling small-market teams, and th...
May 23, 2025•46 min
JD reacts to the departure of Brendan Shanahan from the Maple Leafs organization (00:00). Dan Shulman, Blue Jays play-by-play voice, joins JD to discuss how the Jays can stay afloat above a .500 win percentage, what feels sustainable so far, Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk stepping up, the concern level about Jeff Hoffman, playing at the Tampa Bay Rays temporary stadium, and problem-solving the fifth rotation spot (9:00). JD touches on why the end of the Shanahan era of Leafs hockey was so fru...
May 23, 2025•52 min
JD is joined by former Raptors guard and NBA Champion Norman Powell (00:00). They discuss his development in Toronto before the 2019 championship and the underrated moments of that playoff run, the difficulties of being defending champs in the bubble season, the disappointment of being traded to the Trail Blazers amidst the Raptors' change in direction, before chatting about his breakout season with the Clippers and what playing in Canada meant to him. Later, JD closes out the show with his thou...
May 22, 2025•45 min
JD opens with his thoughts on the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Stars completing massive comebacks in their respective Conference Final openers, the Blue Jays' dominant win over the Padres, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning the NBA MVP award, and the reports around Brendan Shanahan meeting with the New York Islanders (00:00). Former NHL forward and three-time Stanley Cup champion, Pat Maroon, joins the show to discuss playing with Connor McDavid in Edmonton, Stuart Skinner's rollercoaster performance ...
May 22, 2025•52 min
JD and Ben Ennis, co host of The FAN Morning Show , try to make sense of Auston Matthews' reluctance to reveal details about his injury (00:00). JD and Ben move on to the blame being levied at the Toronto market, Juan Soto's start with the New York Mets, and finally, if the Blue Jays are meant to be a .500 win team. Hall of Fame NHL defenceman and Stanley Cup champion, Chris Pronger (52:00), joins JD to analyze what he saw from the Leafs in Game 7, takeaways from the team's exit interviews, the ...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 38 min
JD is joined in studio by Frank Crupi aka Hockey Illuminati, ahead of the Maple Leafs' end-of-season media availabilities, as JD breaks down what he's expecting to hear from the Leafs top players (00:00). Then, JD reacts live to the comments from Head Coach Craig Berube and key players, as they speak to reporters about their season, the Game 7 loss, and the pressure of playing in the Toronto market (20:10). Later, JD and Frank wrap up the show with their takeaways from the year, heading into nex...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 42 min
JD is joined in studio by Frank Crupi, aka Hockey Illuminati, to continue the Leafs' post-mortem following their elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs (00:00). They discuss their love for the Maple Leafs franchise, heartbreak of the 2024-25 season, and the fan reaction to the most recent loss, before tackling the reality of the pressure on professional athletes in Toronto. After the break, they dive into the development of Mitch Marner, his future heading into free agency, and what his legac...
May 20, 2025•54 min
JD reacts to the Toronto Maple Leafs losing 6-1 on home ice to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 (00:00). He's joined by James Mirtle of The Athletic (11:40) to digest the failures of the "Shanaplan", where blame lies for the growing toxicity in hockey's biggest market, the likelihood of Mitch Marner and John Tavares' tenures in Toronto coming to a close, and the potential for organizational changes coming beyond the "Core Four". Afterwards, JD digs deeper into the Leafs' disappointment with two-ti...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 38 min
JD opens the show with his thoughts ahead of a pivotal Game 6 for the Maple Leafs down in Florida, before being joined by Luke Fox, Sportsnet NHL writer, to discuss how this series has swung towards the Panthers, Auston Matthews' underwhelming playoff performances throughout his career, how the Leafs can even the series and bring it back to Toronto for Game 7, what lineup changes could give them the best chance, and what it all means for Mitch Marner's future (00:00). Later, JD breaks down the l...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 37 min
JD reacts to the putrid performance from the Maple Leafs in their 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 (00:00). The Athletic's James Mirtle joins JD to break down what went wrong for the Leafs and how Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews shrunk again (10:00). JD and James also peak ahead to the potential off-season outlook for Marner and the Leafs. Blake Wheeler, 16-year NHL forward and former Winnipeg Jets captain, joins JD to analyze the mindset required from a top line, what he saw from Mat...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 38 min
JD prepares for a pivotal Game 5 between the Maple Leafs and Panthers in Toronto and looks at the lack of production from the Leafs' best players (00:00). Jackie Redmond from NHL on TNT and the NHL Network joins the show to discuss Mitch Marner's attitude through a stretch of adversity, whether or not the momentum will carry over throughout this series, the pressure on Marner and Auston Matthews to play well and move on, and the areas that should give Toronto the most confidence (11:07). Jake Al...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 37 min
JD is joined by Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, to mull through the disappointment of the Raptors ending up with the ninth pick in the NBA draft lottery and the Dallas Mavericks' luck landing the first overall pick (00:00). The duo then debate if the Blue Jays' front office might now be the most-hated by their own fan base, along with the hope in Addison Barger (20:00). Finally, JD and Ben explain why Auston Matthews has the most pressure of any Maple Leaf (35:00). Joseph Casciaro, l...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 38 min
JD gives his thoughts following the Maple Leafs' two losses to the Panthers down in Florida over the weekend, drawing their second round series at two (00:00). Two-time Stanley Cup champion, Kris Versteeg, joins the show to break down the stars' struggles, Matthew Knies' break through as a playoff performer, the importance of matchups to create more offence, how Craig Berube should adjust to the momentum swing, and the unflappability of William Nylander (09:04). JD shares a note from Auston Matt...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 37 min
JD teases the Maple Leafs' weekend in Florida with a chance to return home with a Conference Finals berth (00:00). Frank Seravalli (10:00), hockey insider and president of content at Daily Faceoff, discusses why he chose the Panthers to beat the Leafs, William Nylander's contract value and the decline in Auston Matthews' production. JD and Frank also debate how the Leafs can judge their core and if Matthew Knies is a NHL unicorn. Former MLB all-star and MLB analyst at TBS, Curtis Granderson, giv...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 38 min
JD feels the "force" shift in the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup Playoff run (00:00). James Mirtle (7:00), senior NHL writer at The Athletic, joins JD to delve into the Leafs commanding 2-0 series lead against the Florida Panthers. JD and James get into the series' biggest surprise, Auston Matthews' lack of goal scoring, how Craig Berube has excelled in Toronto and earned his players' trust, the post-whistle battle and the latest on Anthony Stolarz' health. JD then expresses his sorrow for another hea...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 37 min
JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show , break down the Blue Jays' loss to the Angels in Anaheim. They discuss the underperforming offence, where the Jays' fit within the AL East, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s impact following his mega-contract signing, pressure on the back of the bullpen, and what can be done to turn it all around. (00:00) After the break, JD and Ben look ahead to Leafs-Panthers Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena and the pulse of the city compared to other Canadian markets (40:04)...
May 07, 2025•1 hr 36 min
JD touches on an eventful Game 1 between the Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, before bringing on two-time Stanley Cup champion, Kris Versteeg (8:00), to dive into Sam Bennett's elbow on Anthony Stolarz, the Leafs' hot start, Auston Matthews' game, the Leafs stumbling powerplay, and Matthew Knies' importance. Former NHL head coach, Derek Lalonde, gives his thoughts on Bennett receiving no supplemental discipline, Craig Berube trusting his depth, and how Knies' has showcased growth (54:00). JD en...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 37 min
JD starts the show with his recap of the wild weekend in the NHL, including the Winnipeg Jets' Game 7 comeback win over the Blues (00:00). Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins the show to break down the Blue Jays' issues through the first month of the season, their place within the AL East, where the team still needs to improve, and the most recent additions to their pitching depth (15:00). Then, JD details the dual Game 7s for Denver area teams on Saturday night (47:44). Panthers TV analyst an...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 37 min
JD is joined off the top by Frank Crupi, a.k.a. Hockey Illuminati, to react to the Toronto Maple Leafs advancing past the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (00:00). They discuss the relief of moving on, Max Pacioretty's game-winning goal, contributions from up and down the lineup, the effect of Craig Berube on this team, and Anthony Stolarz' play to secure the win, before looking ahead to the second round matchup against the Panthers. Jackie Redmond from NHL on TNT a...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 37 min
JD starts with his thoughts on the Maple Leafs' demons heading into Game 6 of the "Battle of Ontario" (8:00). Sportsnet's Dan Shulman joins the show to discuss the Blue Jays' comeback victory over the Red Sox, signs of power from Anthony Santander, the offence with Daulton Varsho back in the lineup, and bullpen usage without a fifth starter (00:00). Former NHL head coach Rick Bowness jumps on to chat about the Stanley Cup Playoffs, pressure on Craig Berube and the Leafs, coaching up players in t...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 38 min
James Mirtle, senior writer for The Athletic, joins JD at the top of the show to discuss the Leafs' Game 5 loss to the Ottawa Senators (00:00). They break down the lack of offensive output from the stars, the feeling in the room post-game, what's gone wrong since going up 3-0 in the series, the pressure to show up in Game 6, what lineup changes should be made, and the debate around physicality in the playoffs. Then, JD takes a look at the Blue Jays and their recent slump, detailing the areas of ...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 38 min
