Maple Leafs Weekend Letdown + Week 15 Turning Points
Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning close out Monday morning alongside Sportsnet's Luke Fox. Luke shares what he saw on Saturday that led to the Maple Leafs' letdown, discusses expectations around Auston Matthews compared to Connor McDavid, and reacts to Craig Berube’s post-game press conference. The guys examine the team’s urgency given their current position, who would feel the most pressure if the Leafs miss the playoffs, where Matthew Knies fits into the leadership core, when Joseph Woll could return to the net, and who should start in goal for Canada at the Olympics. Later, Trey Wingo (24:55) of the Straight Facts Homie podcast gives his thoughts on a wild Week 15 in the NFL. He chat about the Chiefs elimination from playoff contention, the similarities between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes' trajectories, and whether the Chiefs can still emulate the Patriots dynasty. They also get into the Bills’ chances to win the AFC East, how he expects New England to respond after their loss to Buffalo, his impressions of Philip Rivers, and the latest on the Bengals and Joe Burrow. Ben and Brent close out the morning with the Canadian Sports Moment of the Day.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.
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47:42
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47:42
Leafs Leadership Under the Microscope + Rogers Signs & Shapiro Extends!
Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning kick off the second hour of the week with a look back on Craig Berube's comments following his team's 6-3 loss to the Oilers on Saturday. They discuss the need for more from the leadership core right now and what that could look like for the group. They also compare and contrast Auston Matthews from three years ago to now and examine what has changed so drastically. Later, the guys break down Mark Shapiro's five-year extension with the Blue Jays, the significance of Tyler Rogers signing in Toronto, and what his role in the bullpen might look like. After the break, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (25:55) explores Atkins' new deal and if the World Series run provided enough proof of concept to justify it. The conversation also touches on why the pitching market is moving faster than the position-player market, the possibility of turning to the trade market to address bullpen depth, and the latest on Kyle Tucker.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.
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49:29
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49:29
Leafs Get Stomped, Quinn Hughes Traded & Chiefs Miss Playoffs
Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning kick off the week by recapping a tough Maple Leafs loss to the Edmonton Oilers. They discuss what went wrong on Saturday night, particularly the struggles in the third period and why this season continues to feel like one step forward and two steps back. The boys also break down Dennis Hildeby’s performance and whether he came back to earth or was left out to dry by the team, as well as the strong play of Easton Cowan. Later, Ben and Brent discuss the Canucks’ decision to trade Quinn Hughes to the Wild, examining the significance of the move for both teams, who got the better end of the deal, and the Wild’s aggressive approach. After the break, the guys look at a wild Week 15 in the NFL, including the Chiefs missing the playoffs, the long-term ramifications of Patrick Mahomes tearing his ACL, what the Bills’ win over the Patriots says about both teams, and Philip Rivers’ performance in his NFL return.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.
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50:41
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50:41
Team Canada’s Selection Camp + Leafs & Canada’s World Cup Draw
Ben Ennis and Daniele Franceschi wrap up the week with Sportsnet analyst Jason Bukala, discussing the Leafs' recent game and Dennis Hildeby's performance. They explore potential line combinations for Matthews, Tavares, and Nylander, and the effectiveness of the power play. Bukala shares insights on Macklin Celebrini's chances for Team Canada and the implications of the new ice surface on team selection. Next, they welcome Joshua Kloke (24:14) from The Athletic to analyze Hildeby's emergence and the injury concerns surrounding Oliver Ekman-Larsson. They also discuss the importance of Troy Stecher and the Marlies’ situation. Kloke offers his take on World Cup ticket prices before they close out with a Canadian sports moment of the day.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 affiliate.
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45:26
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45:26
Philip Rivers' Grand Return + Ryan Reaves Has the Last Laugh
Ben Ennis and Daniele Franceschi open the second hour by chatting with NFL on CBS host, Charles Davis! They dive into last night's matchup between the Buccaneers and Falcons to discuss Todd Bowles’ recent comments and whether Tampa Bay is in danger of losing the division, They also discuss the Seahawks–Colts matchup Davis is covering in Seattle, including the Colts’ injury-driven pivot toward Philip Rivers and how realistic his potential return might be. Afterward, the hosts react to Ryan Reaves’ comments about his exit from Toronto and whether he was treated fairly. They then examine Joseph Woll’s health, the emergence of Dennis Hildeby, and how cautious the Leafs should be in managing their goaltending. The hour wraps with a look at the unfolding Clippers–Ty Lue situation and the team’s difficult position.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.
Start your day with Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning in the mornings! The guys tackle everything Toronto sports and beyond live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN weekdays from 6am-9am ET.