The JD Bunkis Podcast

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). 

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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 Fi...

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 g...

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 reacti...

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 c...

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 touc...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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 Mitc...

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". Afte...

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 mea...

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 a...

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 ar...

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 ha...

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 unflappabili...

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. F...