ben nicholson-smith

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning enter Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show alongside Carter Hutton, recently retired NHL netminder and current analyst with Daily Faceoff and Leafs Nation. They discuss the netminders around the league they are most confident in, who would command the Maple Leafs' crease if the playoffs started today, and what goes through a goalie's mind in a these competitive situations. Later, Sportsnet's own Ben Nicholson-Smith joins live from Dunedin, Florida to share his takeaways from Blue Jays Spring Training (26:12). He discusses the team's plans for the rotation, when we will see Joey Votto on the field, if he can crack the Opening Day roster, and who else is in contention for the final few spots. The guys can’t let BNS leave without a quick discussion on the Yankees including the injuries they’re facing and the pressure Scott Boras is putting on them to sign Blake Snell.

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.

Hosts Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning enter the final hour of today’s show with a look ahead at the Maple Leafs' busy schedule this week and how to divide the workload between Joseph Woll and Ilya Samsonov. Sportsnet’s own Nick Kypreos shares what he's looking for as the season winds down and what went wrong Monday night against the Bruins, before circling back to Saturday's fight between Ryan Reaves and Matt Rempe. Later, Ben Nicholson-Smith, co-host of At The Letters, joins the guys live from Blue Jays Spring Training to discuss the latest on Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah, as well as the amount of faith the organization has in their pitching depth (32:13).

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.

James Mirtle, Senior Managing Editor with The Athletic, joins the show to get into the pressure on the Maple Leafs' front office and the urgency to make a deal before the trade deadline (7:30). Plus, JD and James discuss Morgan Rielly's subpar return and the Leafs' goaltending situation. Next, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith checks-in from Blue Jays Spring Training to get into the team's health, pitching depth, why Matt Chapman didn't return, and Daniel Vogelbach (50:00). JD then touches on Scottie Barnes' hand fracture and what it means for the rest of the Raptors season. 

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.
 

Alek Manoah’s back on the mound, so Arden and Ben break down his debut (15:35)! Later the pair discuss the latest on Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman (27:34), before sharing some under-the-radar spring storylines (45:40).

Additional audio from MLB.com.

Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca

This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling.

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.

Two new deals change the look of the Blue Jays’ bench – maybe. Arden and Ben weigh in on Vogelbach and Escobar (15:58) before discussing the top remaining free agents (37:08) and Hyun Jin Ryu’s Jays legacy (53:20).

Additional audio from MLB.com.  

Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca

This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling.

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.

What an off-season it’s been. Arden and Ben start by discussing the Justin Turner signing (05:35) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s arbitration win (33:51) before taking stock of where the Jays stand in the AL East after a trying winter (50:03)

Additional audio from MLB.com.

Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca

This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling.

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.

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning kick off Hour 3 teeing up tonight's game at Scotiabank Arena as the Dallas Stars come to Toronto to face off against the Maple Leafs. Craig Simpson, former NHLer and current Sportsnet broadcaster, joins the fray to weigh in on Sheldon Keefe’s recent criticism of his team, Toronto’s secondary scoring, and how to best prepare for the playoffs heading down the stretch. Next, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith checks in on the arbitration hearing between the Blue Jays and Vlad Guerrero Jr. and the current relationship between the two sides, before sharing his expectations for the team in 2024 (27:25).

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.

Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, joins JD to react to the Blue Jays signing Justin Turner to a 1-year deal (00:00). JD and Ben also debate if analytics have made sports more entertaining (40:00). Next, JD brings in Colby Armstrong, Sportsnet and Penguins analyst, to banter about NHL All-Star weekend, Toronto's media environment and if should Pittsburgh trade Sidney Crosby? (50:00) Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet and MLB Insider, checks-in with JD to breakdown Turner's fit with the Jays (1:20:00).

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.

With the off-season now nearing its end, Arden and Ben take stock of the Blue Jays’ latest moves (02:37) weigh in on the Guerrero Jr. arbitration hearing (36:44) and look ahead at where the team can go from here (55:20).

Additional audio from MLB.com.

Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca

This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling.

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.

On this week's final episode of The FAN Morning Show hosted by Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning, former NHL player and coach turned analyst, Bruce Boudreau stops by! Gabby chats about the current generation of Maple Leafs stars in comparison to the all-time greats, the importance of finding the right mix of depth players, and shares some stories from his time behind the bench. Later on, Sportsnet's own Ben Nicholson-Smith joins the show to discuss the Blue Jays' inability to reach a contract agreement with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and what it means for the future between the team and player. (26:21). Ben and Brent wrap up today's show with some breaking news out of New England as the Patriots name their new head coach.

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.

Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith joins Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning to share his view on the Blue Jays’ pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, how close they were in signing him, and where the organization turns now that Ohtani has selected the Dodgers. MLB Network’s Adnan Virk comments on the social-media hysteria tied to Ohtani’s choice, if there’s a scenario where the $700M spent by the Dodgers turns out to be a bad deal, and if Toronto should overpay other free agents to make up for not signing Ohtani (28:55).

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.

Hosts Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning begin Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show chatting about how the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes may be stalling MLB's free agency market. Next, B&B turn their attention back to the Leafs and are joined by Sportsnet analyst, Justin Bourne. The co-host of Real Kyper & Bourne weighs in on this lull point in the Leafs season to discuss if we’re getting a different version of Sheldon Keefe this year, John Klingberg’s unclear status, and the team's goaltending situation. Next, the duo head to Nashville to speak with Sportsnet’s own Ben Nicholson-Smith, who’s there covering the Winter Meetings (24:36). He gives us the latest buzz from the event, as well as a his first hand account on what its been like with all the Shohei speculation.

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.

Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith checks-in from MLB's winter meetings in Nashville to discuss Shohei Ohtani's visit to the Blue Jays facilities in Dunedin (00:00). Frank Seravalli, NHL Insider with Daily Faceoff, joins the show to discuss the Leafs' pursuit of Chris Tanev, the salary cap bump and the potential for expansion (50:00). Later on, JD then gets into Ross Atkins' explanation of what differentiates Toronto in free agency, before ending the show with 'What We Missed'! 

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.

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning kick off Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show teeing up the Maple Leafs' schedule ahead into tonight's matchup against the Kraken. Sportsnet’s own Luke Fox joins the conversation to discuss Toronto's goaltending, the play of the top two lines, and some potential changes Head Coach Sheldon Keefe could make. Next, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith weighs in on the current structure of the Blue Jays' roster and the areas in needs of improvement, before digging into the latest rumours to separate fact from fiction (27:36). Good morning!

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.

Let’s go beyond the surface on Shohei Ohtani. Arden and Ben dive deep, discussing everything from his work habits (15:29), to his risk profile (27:30), to how he’d fit on the Blue Jays, before turning to other possible Jays targets (36:12).

This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling.

Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca

Additional audio from MLB.com. 

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.

In just a few days, the MLB off-season will begin in earnest. For the Blue Jays, that means making some big decisions, so Shi Davidi joins Ben to assess some of the Blue Jays’ issues (00:37) and preview their next moves (32:25).

This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling.

Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca

Additional audio from MLB.com. 

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.

JD starts the show with his takeaways from the Leafs' convincing win over the Stars (00:00). Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins JD to discuss the Blue Jays off-season hypotheticals  and Alek Manoah's future (9:00). Next, Team Canada and Minnesota Timbewolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, joins JD to discuss Canada's FIBA World Cup run, his off-season routine, getting traded and playing for different franchises (49:00). Next, Erik Kratz, co-host of Foul Territory and former MLB player, joins JD to chat about living at the Rogers Centre, the Gabriel Moreno-Daulton Varsho trade, and selling the World Series (1:15:00).

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.

Enough about the 2023 Blue Jays – it’s time to look ahead at solutions. With free agency approaching quickly, Blake Murphy joins Ben for a discussion of the team’s off-season needs (01:44) and how they might address them in free agency (23:50) and on the trade market (39:02).

This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling.

Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca

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.

JD starts off with some love for Fraser Minten after his preseason showing last night. Soon after, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins JD to attribute the Blue Jays' shortcomings and discuss Toronto's free agency turnover, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., routes to improve the roster, impact of the hitting coach, and other potential changes (6:00). Then, Conor Orr, Senior Writer with Sports Illustrated, joins JD to talk about the Bears season, if it's time for the Bengals to shut down Joe Burrow, a pivotal week ahead for the Cowboys, and how to gauge the Jaguars' potential (49:00). The gents join JD to chat about the juiciest Week 5 matchups,  Joel Embiid joining Team USA,  Brock Purdy having a roommate, and Chase Claypool being traded  (1:20:31).

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.

Blake Murphy kicks things off preparing for this afternoon's Wild Card matchup in Minneapolis. He is joined by Ben Nicholson-Smith, Senior MLB Editor at Sportsnet, to explore the expected pitching matchups, the unveiling of rosters, and potential omissions. Next up, Lance Brozdowski from Marquee Sports Network furthers the discussion with a deep dive into tonight's starters, which team has the bullpen advantage, and how the Jays stack up against the other playoff contenders (33:20). Moving into the second hour, Ben Clemens from FanGraphs joins the show to dissect his Wild Card preview piece for the Jays-Twins matchup (55:23). This includes discussions about the released rosters and the impact of injuries on both teams, with Ben also sharing his thoughts on which series around the league should generate the most interest. Wrapping up today's show is MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park, who reviews the Twins' playoff roster and shares his take on Minnesota's 18-game playoff losing streak (01:15:09).

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.