The FAN Pregame
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Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert start the Friday edition with ESPN radio's Marc Kestecher (1:25) ahead of a busy night of NBA action. They discuss the sustainability of Detroit's regular-season play, Cade Cunningham's case for MVP, James Harden's impact for the Cavs, and how the Nuggets stack up in a loaded Western Conference playoff picture. Ailish and Justin dive deeper into NBA awards and whether the 65-game rule is hurting the conversation. Later, they open the chat for a Friday Free-For-All and discuss the Sabres' playoff chances, American NHLers in Canadian markets, the Leafs' deadline direction after a brutal Florida road trip, landing spots for Steven Stamkos, and projections for the World Baseball Classic, which kicks off next week!
Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Frank Seravalli for another addition of Frank Or Fiction! They discuss if USA and Canada are on level terms following the Olympics, if Matthews wants out of Toronto, if OEL will be a member of the Leafs after the deadline, if the Penguins can make the playoffs without Crosby or the next stretch of play, and much more. Then, Ailish and Justin react to Max Scherzer returning to the Toronto Blue Jays!
Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Sam Cosentino (0:45)! They take a look at the young guys in the league following the Olympic break, what to expect from Connor Bedard and Juraj Slafkovsky, Connor Hellebuyck’s Olympic performance and if he can guide Winnipeg to the playoffs, what to expect from the Canadian Olympians who return to their NHL teams, and if anyone on the Leafs is safe ahead of the trade deadline. Then, Ailish and Justin go through the Canadian NHL teams and discuss how they will approach the final stretch of the season. They break down whether Brad Treliving’s job is safe for next year, whether the Oilers are ready to return to the SCF, the Habs' playoff potential, and much more.
Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick off the show discussing Olympic highlights with Ailish returning from Milan. Then, with baseball back on the air, Sportsnet’s Ben Shulman joins the show (10:44) as the Jays look to defend their Grapefruit League Title! They discuss how much spring training games actually matter, what Jays fans should expect from Ricky Tiedemann, the team's new additions, and much more. Then, Ailish and Justin look ahead to the final stretch of the NHL season. They discuss the importance of the next few games for the Leafs and whether Auston Matthews will be in the lineup, whether we saw Canada’s Olympians at their best, and more.
Justin Cuthbert and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala (1:36) following Canada’s hard-fought loss to Team USA in the Men’s Hockey final at the Olympics. They discuss how each team was built, the young stars Canada left off the roster like Connor Bedard and Matthew Schaefer, how Canada will approach the next national event, if 3v3 hockey belongs on the international stage, and much more. Then, Justin and Jesse go through the biggest storylines from the Olympics, their takeaways from Canada’s Olympic hockey losses, Crosby’s future, the reliance on McDavid in the medal rounds, what the conversations will look like going forward, and much more.
Justin Cuthbert and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with Elliotte Friedman (3:00) following Team USA’s victory over Slovakia in the Men’s Olympic Hockey tournament. They break down Sunday’s Gold Medal matchup between Canada and the USA, Canada’s close semifinal contest against Finland, the officiating, and what to expect in the Gold Medal game. Then, Sportsnet’s David Amber joins the show (12:20) to discuss his takeaways from the Men’s hockey tournament heading into the medal rounds, how Canada stacks up against the Americans, the key to beating Connor Hellebuyck, and much more. Later, following the announcement that he will be headlining a UFC Fight Night in Winnipeg, UFC Welterweight Mike Mallott joins the show (25:50)! They discuss heading a fight in Canada, how he approaches his matchup against Gilbert ‘Durinho’ Burns, and whether we could ever see MMA at the Olympics, and much more. Finally, Justin and Jesse discuss the Jays' spring training expectations, the pitching depth, and more.
Jesse Fuchs kicks things off with former Team Canada Olympic Hockey Forward Rebecca Johnston as they react to Canada’s heartbreaking loss to Team USA in the Women’s Gold Medal Game. They discuss how Canada unravelled in the last two minutes of the game, Marie-Philip Poulin's international legacy after what could be her last Olympics, and much more. Then, Sportsnet’s Matt Bonner joins the show (14:07) as the Raptors return from the All-Star Break. They recap how the event fared, whether the dunk contest can be fixed, and the league's newly proposed anti-tanking rules. Later, legendary broadcaster Al Michaels joins the show (25:37) to discuss his memories of the Miracle on Ice, his takeaways from the Olympic women’s gold medal game, his perspective on the NHL landscape, and much more! Finally, Jesse is joined by Sportsnet’s Mike Futa (44:25) to tee up the men’s hockey semi-finals at the Olympics tomorrow.
Justin Cuthbert and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with Ailish Forfar (1:56) live from Milan! They break down a busy day of quarterfinals action across the men’s hockey tournament and discuss her experience taking it all in from Canada House, the vibes when Mitch Marner got Canada into a spot in the semifinals, how Canada can rebound from Sidney Crosby’s injury, and if we should expect to see him suit up again this week. Then, they discuss Canada’s women’s hockey team's gold medal matchup against Team USA and what Canada needs to do to defeat a powerhouse American side. Later, Justin and Jesse dive deeper into Canada’s narrow victory over Czechia earlier today and break down the coaching decisions, Binnington’s performance between the pipes, Suzuki and Marner’s heroics, takeaways from Team USA’s men’s Hockey team heading into the semifinals, and much more.
Justin Cuthbert and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with Sportsnet’s Brad Fay (5:24). They go through Canada’s Olympic performances as the games begin to wind down. They discuss Canada’s curling results so far, what to expect in a gold medal game between Canada and the USA’s Women’s hockey team, Macklin Celebrini’s historic performance for Team Canada as a teenager, and much more! Then, Devan Dubnyk joins the show (25:59) to discuss how he views Canada’s decision to start Binnington and how it has worked out so far, his takeaways ahead of the semi-finals, and much more. Then, Justin and Jesse discuss whether we could be in for an upset in the men’s hockey tournament.
Justin Cuthbert and Jesse Fuchs start with a look back on the Canadian women's 2-1 win over Switzerland to advance to the gold-medal game against the US in Milan. To help break down the game and more, three-time Olympic gold medalist Becky Kellar joins the show (4:43). She discusses the keys for Canada to take gold, Marie-Philip Poulin's performance despite the injury, the parallels between this year's team and the 2002 gold-winning squad, and how the heightened stakes change the matchup's dynamic. Later, Jeff Blair, host of Blair and Barker, stops by (28:45) to share a season preview for the Blue Jays with Spring Training games on the horizon, as well as names like Gage Stanifer, Ricky Tiedemann and Kazuma Okamoto to keep an eye on ahead of the regular season.
In a rare post-game edition of The FAN Pregame, Justin Cuthbert and Jesse Fuchs welcome Luke Gazdic (1:44) into the studio to help break down the Canadian men's 5-1 win over Switzerland. Gaz evaluates Jon Cooper's adjustments through two games, the crowd's impact in Milan, whether there's a problem with the men's format, Macklin Celebrini's hot start to his international career, and much more. Then, Justin and Jesse share some Olympic injury news with Marie-Philip Poulin returning to practice and Josh Morrissey set to miss another game. Finally, former NBA pro and Pelicans analyst Antonio Daniels stops by (26:08) to tee up the NBA All-Star game, the tanking conversation clouding the league, the new international wrinkle of this year's events, what can be done to fix it in the future, and Chris Paul's unceremonious retirement.
Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off by reacting to Canada getting two big 5-0 wins from both the men’s and women’s hockey teams in Milan! Then, Jason Bukala joins the show (10:45) to recap what we saw from Canada’s men’s hockey team in their tournament debut. They discuss what we saw from Jordan Binnington, how Macklin Celebrini made his presence known in his Olympic debut, what to make from Alberts Smits, the tournament's lone 2026 Draft eligible player, and much more. Then, Former USA Olympian and Toronto Maple Leaf, John-Michael Liles (30:34), joins the show! He shares some memories from playing at the Olympics with Keith Tkachuk and now seeing his son’s leading the way for Team USA, MacKinnon’s game on the national stage, Team USA’s elite D-core, the pressure Auston Matthews faces as captain, and much more.
Justin Cuthbert returns! Ailish Forfar and Justin kick things off with Shi Davidi (2:04) live from Florida as the Blue Jays have officially kicked off as pitchers and catchers report to Dunedin. They discuss how the injury news from yesterday could impact the team's plans for opening day, whether they will be looking to make an upgrade, what to expect from a full season of Trey Yesavage, and more. Then, Ailish and Justin discuss who could be the Blue Jays' opening day starter. Finally, Ailish and Justin go through Canada’s medal count before teeing up the Canadian Men’s Hockey Team’s first game tomorrow morning against Czechia.
Ailish Forfar and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with Arden Zwelling (1:01) following the breaking Blue Jays news. They discuss what Santander’s injury means for the team and how long the team was aware of the latest injury, Shane Bieber’s status, Bowden Francis being out for the year, Jose Berrios’ future in Toronto, and more. Then, Claude Julien joins the show (27:13) to discuss his memories on the bench at the Olympics in 2014. They discuss what he sees day-to-day from Jordan Binnington in his role as an assistant coach with the Blues, how coaching in the NHL and Olympics differ, what he has noticed from Macklin Celebrini in his sophomore season, and much more. They end things off discussing Abby Murphy’s antics against Team Canada and how she has established herself as the villain in Milan.
Ailish Forfar and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with CBC’s Matt Cullen (1:49) following Canada’s loss to Team USA in Women’s Hockey. They discuss how Canada has kicked off the Winter Olympics, which events Canada has a chance to compete in, and much more. Then, Ailish and Jesse react to the breaking Blue Jays news that Santander will be out long-term, Bowden Francis being out for the year, Shane Bieber facing injury concerns, and more. Then, Sportsnet’s own Meaghan Mikkelson (27:17) joins the show to discuss her memories and experiences in the Canada/US Women’s Hockey Rivalry, how Canada can bounce back from a disappointing loss, and more.
Ailish Forfar and Anna Dua kick things off by reacting to Canada’s Women’s hockey team's victory over Czechia. They break down the performance, discuss Marie-Philip Poulin’s injury, and more. Then, they discuss the Seahawks' win over the Patriots in the Super Bowl, whether it was a missed opportunity for Buffalo, and the halftime show. Later, Sam Cosentino joins the show (29:02) to break down what we have seen from the Canadian and American Men’s hockey teams, their line combos at practice and who could match up against the two powerhouse countries. Then, they discuss whether Gavin McKenna’s legal troubles will impact his draft stock. Finally, Greg Wyshynski stops by (54:15) to break down what we can expect from the American team in Milan. They discuss the roster decisions that Bill Guerin and Co. had to make, Charlie McAvoy’s injury leading up to the tournament, and much more!
Ailish Forfar and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with Ben Volin (7:29) ahead of the Super Bowl. They discuss the quick rebuild following the Brady/Belichick dynasty, Drake Maye’s health ahead of the big game, and much more. Then, Kevin Barker joins the show (27:36) following the announcement that Buck Martinez has retired from the Blue Jays broadcast. They discuss his legacy in the city and the league, his memories at the park with Buck, and much more. Ailish and Jesse end things off by ranking their favourite Super Bowl foods!
Ailish Forfar and Justinn Cuthbert kick things off with Sportsnet’s Brad Fay (0:56)! They discuss the Olympic opening ceremonies, the return of NHLers at the Olympics, what he is looking forward to most this Olympics, the top stories heading into the games, favourite Olympic memories, and more. Then, Ailish and Jesse react to the latest news surrounding whether Canada’s women’s hockey team will be able to play their first game against Switzerland tomorrow. Next, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic joins the show (27:41) ahead of the Super Bowl. They break down the last 11 years following a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to the Patriots and how they once again head into February to take on the Pats! They discuss Sam Darnold getting a chance to complete a storybook season, who could be the difference-maker for Seattle, and much more!
Ailish Forfar and Jesse Fuchs kick off the Thursday show by welcoming Associated Press writer Tim Reynolds from Cortina (1:23). Tim shares the vibe ahead of Friday's opening ceremonies before giving his take on a quieter trade deadline around the NBA, why Giannis Antetokounmpo talks fizzled, the Raptors' minor moves, and why teams were hesitant to swing for Ja Morant. Next, the Athletic's Shayna Goldman stops by (26:50) to run through some hockey headlines on the final night ahead of the NHL's Olympic break, including Team Canada swapping Seth Jarvis in for the injured Brayden Point, darkhorse medal threats in Milan, and Leon Draisaitl's postgame rant after the Oilers' third straight loss. Finally, Raptors radio analyst Paul Jones (50:15) discusses the Raptors' outlook in the Eastern Conference after the trade deadline.
Sportsnet's senior columnist Eric Engels (0:45) joins Ailish Forfar and Jesse Fuchs to chat about the Montreal Canadiens' mainstay near the top of the Atlantic Division, Cole Caufield being left off Team USA's Olympic roster, and how the team can build on their success once the roster freeze thaws before the NHL trade deadline. Then, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford (25:37) stops by to discuss the league's representation in the Winter Olympics, the increased competition, her time representing Team Canada, her advice to first-time Olympians, and if further expansion is on the horizon for the PWHL. To wrap up, Sportsnet's NBA columnist Michael Grange (35:19) weighs in on the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz among the teams headlining the news cycle, the Raptors moving Ochai Agbaji in a three-team deal to get themselves under the tax, and if this lone move is it for Bobby Webster and the Raptors with a day until the deadline.
Ailish Forfar and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with Luke Gazdic (1:46) ahead of the Leafs matchup against the Oilers. They discuss each team’s direction heading into the Olympic break, the parity in the NHL and where teams could be if they were in other divisions, Team Canada adding Sam Bennett to the Olympic roster, and much more! Then, Luke Fox joins the show (30:18) ahead of tonight’s game. They discuss how the Leafs will approach the deadline if they elect to be sellers, the value players like Morgan Rielly have, how the team would approach a rebuild, how Treliving and the board will use the trade freeze, and more. Ailish and Jesse end things off discussing some of the biggest NBA trades of the day!
Ailish Forfar and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with Frank Seravalli (2:09). They break down the Stadium Series last night and how both the Lightning and Bruins committed to the bit. Then, they discuss the big news of the day as Barry Trotz has stepped down from his role as GM of the Nashville Predators, the latest on Artemi Panarin and if the Panthers could be a landing spot for the star winger, if Marc-Andre Fleury could find his way back to the NHL, and much more. Later, former Olympic Curler Lisa Weagle (27:28) joins the show to reflect upon her memories competing in the Olympics, what we can expect from Canada’s curling teams at the Olympics, and much more!
Ailish Forfar and Jesse Rubinoff kick off the show with Sportsnet’s Mike Futa (0:23)! They discuss how he would attempt to fix the Maple Leafs, what goes in to trading a draft pick at the deadline when your team is out of a playoff spot, the best landing spots for Artemi Panarin, how GM’s feel about their players playing at the Olympics, and much more. Then, Ailish and Jesse discuss some of the notable players getting injured ahead of the Olympics. Later, ahead of the NBA trade deadline, Frank Isola joins the show (26:20) to discuss what could be in store on the trade front throughout the next week. They discuss where Giannis could end up, how likely a trade for the Greek Freak is, what the Bucks are looking for in a trade, if the Raptors could make a trade work, LeBron’s future, how the Raps and the rest of the East will approach the deadline, and much more
Ailish Forfar and Jesse Rubinoff kick things off with ESPN’s Arda Ocal (2:39) ahead of a busy night of hockey! They kick things off by discussing how the Rangers have handled their latest rebuild and Artemi Panarin’s future, whether the Penguins are a legitimate playoff threat, and if Dubas and Co. could be buyers at the deadline. They also cover Logan Thompson’s latest injury, the playoff races in the East, and more. Then, they discuss the Olympics, whether Team USA left too much talent off the roster, the landscape of international hockey in the near future, and more. Later, Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas (26:52) joins the show live from Seattle ahead of tonight’s Maple Leafs contest against the Kraken, what the Leafs need to do down the stretch to turn their season around, and much more. Then, Ailish and Jesse discuss whether the Leafs should commit to being sellers at the deadline.
Ailish Forfar and Jesse Rubinoff kick things off with David Amber (1:26) ahead of Wednesday Night Hockey! They start with the Ottawa Senators, who sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division as they take on the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. They discuss how the first half of the year has fared so far for Canadian teams and the goaltending across Canada, why Leafs nation should brace themselves for some pain down the road, Artemi Panarin being held out of the Rangers lineup for the foreseeable future for roster management purposes, if Macklin Celebrini is a legitimate Hard trophy candidate, and much more. Later, Michael Grange joins the show (27:05) ahead of the New York Knicks coming to town. They break down the Raps' recent stretch, what to expect the team to do at the trade deadline and if Jakob Poeltl will be a member of the Raptors following next week's deadline, and much more! Ailish and Jesse close by discussing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future as the superstar is reportedly on the move!
Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick off the show discussing Bill Belichick not being inducted to the Hall Of Fame in his first season of eligibility. They break down the rational behind the omission, the politics surrounding the former Patriots HC, why he was deserving of being a first ballot HOFer, and more. Then, ahead of a pivotal matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, Luke Fox joins the show to discuss the Leafs HC Craig Berube meeting with the team’s leadership group, how he typically addresses the team following games, what to expect against the Sabres, and much more!
Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Jason Bukala (1:37) as they discuss the turmoil in Leafs land, how important the next stretch of games will be before the Olympic break, how the Leafs leadership has handled themselves this season, and whether this group has what it takes to gain ground on the rest of the Atlantic Division. Then, James Palmer joins the show (29:16) to discuss the Super Bowl matchup being set. They break down what we saw from the championship games this weekend, the Seahawks and Patriots' paths to the Super Bowl, Sam Darnold and Drake Maye's growth, Matt Stafford’s future, and much more!
Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Elliotte Friedman ahead of Mitch Marner’s return to Toronto. They discuss the drama surrounding his return, how the two sides ended their relationship, how he should be remembered as a Maple Leaf, the similarities between Marner and Vince Carter’s conclusions of their respective careers in Toronto, and much more. They end things off discussing Stolarz making his return to the lineup tonight in a major contest and Rasmus Andersson making his Vegas Golden Knights debut. Then, Luke Fox joins the show live from Scotiabank Arena ahead of tonight’s big contest. They discuss Berube’s injury, Stolarz getting the start, and much more!
Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Frank Seravalli (1:21). They discuss Rasmus Andersson joining the Vegas Golden Knights, Mitch Marner’s return to Toronto, and Jarmo Kekäläinen’s first big move as Sabres GM, locking up Josh Doan to a long-term extension. Then, they discuss the Sabres' looming decision on Alex Tuch and the playoff windows for some of the hottest teams around the league. Later, Ailish and Justin discuss some of the NHL players who have never made an All-Star game and who could have earned their first appearance had there been an ASG this season, their thoughts on how the Bills handled their press conference surrounding their coaching change, their Super Bowl Predictions, and much more.
Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Sportsnet Leafs Analyst Craig Simpson ahead of Toronto hosting the red-hot Red Wings tonight. They discuss Joseph Woll getting the start, the playoff race in the Atlantic, what the Leafs can do at the trade deadline with their assets, and more. Then, they break down how Matthews has improved as of late, what has changed in his game admits his recent stretch, Patrick Kane’s legacy in his chase for history, the Red Wings young core’s development, and more.
