Mike Richards In The Morning

Mike chats with Pierre McGuire about Nazem Kadri who says, "It's always better to let your prospects become overripe vs. underdeveloped." Darren Dreger also checks in and says he expects Dave Nonis to move a defenceman in the very near future. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Hour 1:

Leafs beat the Islanders in OT, Scott Milanovich named CFL coach of the year, & an update from Blue Jays training camp. Hour 1 Audio

Hour 2:

Pierre McGuire, Darren Dreger Audio break down the Leafs win vs. the Islanders, Foster Hewitt Audio calls in, & WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston Audio live in-studio! Hour 2 Audio

Hour 3:

Bob Cole Chicks I Like, James Duthie talks NHL, Mark Zecchino & Cameron Jacobs discuss the Taylor Made Performance Lab. Hour 3 Audio

7:15 Pierre McGuire – NHL on NBC Analyst

$6.5 million for the services of Ryan O'Reilly next year is a very steep price for the Colorado Avalanche to pay. This is a player that hasn't scored more than 55 points per season. Ryan O'Reilly is a "glue guy" (versatile, blocks shots, battles in the crease, penalty killer) Other GM's have been actively trying to trade for O'Reilly but Colorado's asking price was considered to be too high. Nazem Kadri is attacking the inside part of the ice & put quite the move on Islanders defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky last night. Kudos to Toronto Marlies head coach Dallas Eakins for making sure that Kadri was able to make the jump the NHL. The morale of the Nazem Kadri story is that "It's always better to have your prospects overripe vs. underdeveloped." Even though the Ottawa Senators didn't win last night vs. Boston, they still managed to pick up a "loser point." This Senators team will continue to hang around provided they don't suffer anymore injuries. It's was difficult to determine exactly where Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford got injured last night vs. the St. Louis Blues. Perhaps Crawford suffered a concussion like symptoms. Steven Stamkos has a right to be embarrassed after last night's loss vs. the Rangers. Tampa has a bad habit of not showing up in the first period, & their road record is atrocious.

7:30 Kofi Kingston – WWE Superstar (Live In-Studio)

Kofi Kingston signed a developmental contract with the WWE in 2006, and is in Toronto tonight at 7:30 at the Ricoh Coliseum vs. CM Punk for the "Road to WrestleMania." Wrestling is one of those sports that has been able to "evolve with the times" The "Entertainment" in WWE is the most important aspect of wrestling. Might consider a career in Hollywood down the road

7:45 Leafs Breakfast: Darren Dreger – NHL Insider

When Kadri first broke into the NHL he showed "flashes" of brilliance, but was dogged by turnovers, poor defensive play, & inconsistency. Fast forward to 2013 & what we are seeing today is a much more mature version of Nazem Kadri. Kadri still has plenty of work ahead of him, but there appears to finally be a light at the end of the tunnel. Evgeni Nabokov wasn't at his best last night, but credit the Leafs for keeping New York Islanders superstar John Tavares off the score sheet. The Leafs now have to reset & focus on Monday's game vs. the New Jersey Devils. Expect Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis to move a defenseman at some point in the near future. Not surprised that the Calgary Flames signed O'Reilly to an offer sheet. This was a very aggressive move by the Flames however; it was rather surprising to see Colorado match the offer sheet within five hours. With the Ryan O'Reilly situation finally being resolved, we could start to see more player movement around the league.

8:15 James Duthie – Host "NHL on TSN"

Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle has show much more confidence in Nazem Kadri compared to the Ron Wilson coaching regime. In turn, Nazem Kadri has repaid the favour to Carlyle & company with a high level of play this season. Kadri plays with an edge & has ridiculously talented hands, so the fact that he is leading the Maple Leafs in scoring shouldn't come as that much of a surprise. All the top players in the league have that "competitive nasty edge" that we are witnessing in Kadri. Dion Phaneuf & Roberto Luongo share a lot of similarities in that they are very good but not "elite" players. Both players could be considered underappreciated because they have been burdened with unrealistic expectations.

8:30 Mark Zecchino – Host "Golf Talk Canada"

Broadcasting live at the Toronto Gold Show with TSN Radio tomorrow. This Toronto show has made immense progress/strides compared to four-five years ago. The anchored putting conundrum just won't seem to go away. The USGA & RNA have proposed a rule that would kick in January 2016 where "golfers would no longer be able to anchor the putter to your body, the club should be able to swing freely/separately from the body." The biggest problem is that it's difficult to make this kind of change thirty years down the road after initially allowing the use of belly putters. Most people on Team Canada feel that Graham DeLaet has the most "natural raw talent" on the tour.

8:45 Cameron Jacobs – Taylor Made Performance Lab

Fun chat about the wide variety of products available from the good people at Taylor Made.

Pierre McGuire, Darren Dreger and James Mirtle chat with Mike about the disappointing effort by the Leafs in last night's loss versus the Habs. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Hour 1:

Leafs lose to the Habs, Scott MacArthur reports on the Jays 10-1 loss vs the Astros, & who is the favourite to become the next Pope? Audio

Hour 2:

Pierre McGuire, Darren Dreger, James Mirtle break down the Leafs loss vs. the Habs, & Peyton Manning talks NFL Combine. Audio

Hour 3:

Jack Armstrong recaps the Raptors loss vs. the Cavs, Alex Anthopoulos discusses Jays training camp, Butch Goring previews tonight's Islander/Leaf game. Audio

6:30 Scott MacArthur - Blue Jays Reporter

While the Jays did have a sloppy performance vs. the Houston Astros yesterday, it's still far too early to panic, because after all it's only the Grapefruit League… Some areas of concern for the Jays include base running/fielding, so it's safe to say that the Jays are still "working out the kinks." John Gibbons is expected to play the bulk of his starters this afternoon vs. the New York Yankees. Brandon Morrow is expected to get the start on the mound this afternoon, followed by J.A. Happ who is expected to take over during the third inning. Ricky Romero is still working on his sinker ball pitch & trying to revert to his 2011 All-Star form. Romero is still battling tendinitis, so if his struggles continue he could wind up being sent down to Buffalo. Don't expect any retaliation from the Yankees today in light of the injury to Curtis Granderson.

7:15 Pierre McGuire – NHL on NBC Analyst

The Washington Capitals & Alexander Ovechkin are really struggling right now. The Capitals seem to be lacking a "compete level" which is rather embarrassing because every game should have a "playoff like feel" at this point in the season. On the other end of the spectrum the Montreal Canadiens are focused, well coached, playing with relatively good discipline, & have a high "compete level", making them a very difficult opponent. The Mike Brown hit on Josh Gorges was controversial because "it wasn't a hit from behind." Once again, enter coach's challenge…. The Los Angeles Kings are heating up & seem to be finally recovering from their Stanley Cup hangover. It is conceivable that the Kings could still catch the Anaheim Ducks for top spot in the Pacific Division. Ryan Kesler sidelined indefinitely with a broken foot is a monumental loss for the Vancouver Canucks. This team essentially goes from Stanley Cup contender to potential first round playoff upset, without the services of Kesler. Since we are approaching the twenty game mark, expect to see some more trades in the near future!

7:45 Leafs Breakfast – Darren Dreger & James Mirtle

Randy Carlyle was brutally honest in his post-game assessment regarding the Mike Brown hit & Tyler Bozak faceoff fiasco. The Mike Brown hit wasn't a checking from behind penalty, but it was still a dangerous play. The officiating may have been questionable at best however; the reality is that the Maple Leafs didn't play very well at all. The Leafs lacked offensive zone control, lost puck battles, didn't appear to be very inspired, and Toronto's best players were missing in action. Nothing left to do but look ahead to tonight's matchup vs. the New York Islanders. If the Leafs don't stop this "win one lose one" mentality, they could soon find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture.

8:15 Jack Armstrong – NBA on TSN

The Raptors loss last night was downright ugly, especially when you consider the fact that the Cleveland Cavaliers were missing their best player. Last night's loss combined with the Milwaukee Bucks thrilling win vs. the Houston Rockets put a serious dent in the Raptors playoff hopes. The Raptors have proved that they have the talent to "play with anybody" but still seem to be searching for a level of consistency. Perhaps the Raptors miss Jamal Magloire a little more than they would like to admit? The Raptors should seriously consider adding some more veteran leadership during the off-season.

8:30 Alex Anthopoulos – Blue Jays General Manager

The most interesting battle during Blue Jays training camp has been behind the plate: Josh Thole vs. Henry Blanco. If Blanco makes the team Josh Thole will have plenty of options at his disposal. Expect this decision to go down to the wire. Skipper John Gibbons is the right man for this job because of his previous experience in Toronto & strong relationship with a wide variety of players throughout the league. The Jays are fortunate to have plenty of leaders in the clubhouse (Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes, Mark DeRosa, Henry Blanco, etc…) Sergio Santos has looked good during training camp, & Casey Janssen is being cautiously eased back into the lineup. Assuming there are no setbacks Janssen should be ready to start the year as the Jays closer. Ricky Romero is "not where he needs to be" & will have to keep working hard to return to 2011 All-Star form.

8:45 Butch Goring – New York Islanders TV Analyst

The New York Islanders, like most NHL teams seem to be having a hard time establishing a sense of consistency during this compressed season (Chicago Blackhawks excluded) John Tavares is the kind of player who "leads by example." He has such passion/effort/enthusiasm every night, which is a real treat for Islander fans. In order for the Islanders to be successful they will have to take advantage of a Maple Leafs team coming off a difficult 5-2 loss vs. the Montreal Canadiens.

Mike talks Leafs/Habs with Jonas Siegel, Pierre McGuire, Darren Dreger and James Mirtle, all of whom expect a physical, playoff-like matchup tonight at the ACC. (Photo: Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Hour 1:

Jonas Siegel previews tonight's Leafs vs. Habs game, reaction to the NHL's realignment proposal, & how exactly how do you pronounce Nazem Kadri? Audio

Hour 2:

Pierre McGuire, Darren Dreger, James Mirtle preview tonight's Leafs vs. Habs game, & Donald Trump weighs in on the NHL's realignment proposal Audio

Hour 3:

Darren Rovell explains the economic impact of Jimmie Johnson & Manti Te'o, Alex Marvez recaps the NFL Combine, & Aaron Ward talks NHL. Audio

6:30 Jonas Siegel – Maple Leafs Reporter

Tonight's Leafs vs. Habs matchup has almost a "playoff" like feel to it. After all when was the last time that Toronto & Montreal were vying for top spot in the Eastern Conference? The first meeting between these two clubs ended in a 2-1 nail biter, followed by a 6-0 Leafs blowout, what will tonight's game have in store? The Canadiens are rolling right now & haven't lost in regulation since Feb 9th vs. Toronto. In order for the Leafs to be successful they will have to set the tone early on, capitalize on home ice, & play a simple game (like they do on the road). On the injury front, Colton Orr is expected to skate on the fourth line tonight, James Reimer could possibly return to action Thursday night vs. the New York Islanders, & Matt Frattin is getting closer but still hasn't been cleared for contact, expect a low scoring game tonight between these two old time rivals.

7:15 Pierre McGuire – NHL on NBC Analyst

Montreal & Toronto are definitely overachieving, but they are also doing the little things it takes to win hockey games (winning races, blocking shots, playing physical, buying into new systems, etc…) Toronto's system appears to be working (playing physical, taking away time/space, & capitalizing on the oppositions mistakes) Kudos to Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin for cleaning up what was previously considered a "toxic environment." The biggest reason behind the Michael Ryder trade is Dallas Stars team consultant & former Canadiens GM Bob Gainey (he's the one who let Ryder walk & signed Cole) Another thing to consider is that Ryder is a UFA at the end of the season whereas Erik Cole still has two years left on his contract, & had a strained relationship with head coach Michel Therrien. Add these factors up & it's clear that Montreal wins this deal hands down. The Simon Gagne trade is the repercussion of the Matt Read injury (out six weeks with a rib injury) Gagne should be very comfortable returning to his old stomping grounds, & was starting to fall out of favour with the Kings management, plus the Flyers didn't have to jettison a player so everyone wins! The New York Rangers are in serious trouble right now, "they've lost their identity & have to get it back in a hurry." Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, & Derek Stepan need to step up quick time! The Washington Capitals appear to be gaining some momentum but how much gas do they have left in the tank?

7:45 Leafs Breakfast – Darren Dreger & James Mirtle

Forget the "extra curricular" activities tonight's game is all about getting two points. Expect a physical battle from the Montreal Canadiens who seem to struggle against the Maple Leafs this season. Both teams have played surprisingly well during the first quarter of this season, especially when you consider that both clubs finished last year at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. It's nice to see that this age old rivalry is alive & well! Toronto's goaltending seems to remain a focal point/obsession for the fans & media even though Reimer & Scrivens have done an admiral job filling in when called upon. Expect this saga to drag on until Roberto Luongo is finally traded from Vancouver. The NHL's realignment proposal raises some questions (14 teams in the West vs. 16 teams in the East) perhaps the NHL is leaving the door open for expansion?

8:15 Darren Rovell – ESPN Sports Business Reporter

NASCAR took a big hit after the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. in 2001. Enter Danica Patrick…could the momentum she generated during her 8th place finish at the Daytona 500 last Sunday put fans back in the stands? The 40 yard dash is "where you can make your money" therefore it is painfully obvious that Manti Te'o has seen his stock drop. Te'o lost roughly $350-500,000 due to his poor performance at the NFL Combine. Expect teams to take a "wait & see" approach with regards to drafting Te'o.

8:30 Alex Marvez – Senior NFL Writer Foxsports.com

South Florida has always been host to one of the most fickle fan bases (see Miami Dolphins). Manti Te'o had a horrendous performance at the NFL Combine (4.82 seconds in the 40 yard dash is downright embarrassing) Perhaps even more disturbing was Te'o's post combine comments 'I'm tired" Don't expect to see USC Trojans QB Matt Barkley selected by the Buffalo Bills, primarily due to his lack of arm strength. The New York Jets have been actively shopping Darrelle Revis at the NFL Combine, but this guy is riddled with question marks, so there don't appear to be many takers at the moment.

8:45 Aaron Ward – NHL on TSN

Montreal in first place…has the world gone topsy turvy? Montreal's success can be attributed to a variety of factors. Montreal has really tried to evolve into a tougher/grittier team & Toronto has adopted a similar philosophy. For some reason the Habs have really struggled against the Leafs this season. The Michael Ryder trade came as a bit of a surprise especially with Erik Cole coming off a thirty five goal season the previous year. Dallas has had their eye on Cole for quite some time, & Cole appeared to fall out of favour with head coach Michel Therrien. Lou Eriksson has struggled this year maybe the arrival of Erik Cole is just what the doctor ordered. Michael Ryder has one of the top five snapshots in the league. So perhaps this is one of those trades "where both sides benefit." The NHL's realignment proposal is flawed but so is the current system. It should be very interesting to see how this shakes down.

Mike is joined by Pierre McGuire who says the Leafs have bought into the concept of "being hard to play against," while Darren Dreger says two words can be used to describe the 2013 team: grit & accountability. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Hour 1:

Leafs beat the Flyers, Raptors lose a heart breaker, Scott MacArthur reports from Blue Jays training camp, & is Manti Te'o on the decline? Audio

Hour 2:

Pierre McGuire & Darren Dreger recap the Leafs win vs. the Flyers, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards call in, & the "Evil" Jerry Howarth live in-studio! Audio

Hour 3:

Steve Simmons reports on the Jays training camp, Jack Armstrong breaks down the Raptors loss vs. the Wizards, & John Kryk recaps the NFL Combine. Audio

6:30 Scott MacArthur – Blue Jays Spring Training

Expect the boo birds to continue to surround former Jays skipper John Farrell until at least April 6th when the Red Sox come to town to face the Blue Jays. It's a little too early Nothing to panic over R.A. Dickey's performance yesterday (giving up singles to three of the first four batters during Toronto's 4-2 loss) Dickey is still getting used to live hitters/getting his arm warmed up for a long season. Josh Johnson shoulder looks to be in fine form (one hit and a few strikeouts in two innings) This training camp has proved that Johnson has three or four dynamite pitches, which bodes well for a guy heading into "the biggest season of his life."

7:15 Pierre McGuire – NHL on NBC Analyst

The Chicago Blackhawks have been utterly dominant throughout this shortened season. The biggest reason behind the Hawks success is the secondary scoring they are receiving from a wide variety of players. Unfortunately the Edmonton Oilers will continue to struggle until they address their most pressing need: defense (see last night vs. Chicago) Justin Schultz has been a pleasant addition on defense, but this young Oilers squad still needs more help because "you can't win a track meet every night." The Toronto Maple leafs are proving to be a tough team to play against mainly because everyone has bought into the philosophy of "being hard." The end result is that the skilled players are reaping the rewards. Dion Phaneuf appears to be returning to All-Star form, & Phil Kessel's quick release & two-step acceleration are creating headaches for opponents. Paul MacLean should be the front runner for the Jack Adams Award, due to his remarkable work in Ottawa. The Senators depth players are stepping up and playing at an extremely high level. It's a fun time to be a Senators fan! Keep your eye on the Los Angeles Kings & Boston Bruins. They are two teams that are on the rise. The Kings are in the midst of a long home stand & could really solidify their playoff position with a few wins during the next few days. On less positive note the Buffalo Sabres season could be on the line tonight in Tampa Bay. If Buffalo loses tonight, the next two months could be very painful for Sabres faithful.

7:45 Leafs Breakfast: Darren Dreger – NHL Insider

It's hard to be critical of last night's win vs. the Flyers. The Mike Brown vs. Tye McGinn fight seemed to be the turning point during last night's game. Mikhail Grabovski is finally starting to heat up, Ben Scrivens was solid, & the much maligned penalty kill has been vastly improved. Two words to describe the 2013 edition of the Toronto Maple Leafs: grit & accountability. Kudos to Carlyle & company for "getting everyone on the same page." The Maple Leafs will be in tough Wednesday night vs. the surprising Montreal Canadiens & will need another stellar performance from Ben Scrivens if they want to come away with a victory.

8:00 Steve Simmons – Sun Media / The Reporters

The fans booing John Farrell during yesterday's exhibition match is somewhat warranted, because it became painfully obvious that "he didn't really want to be here." How will Blue Jays fans react on April 6th when Farrell & the Boston Red Sox return to Toronto? R.A. Dickey had an average performance, leaving plenty of room for improvement. However, it would be premature to start panicking because after all Dickey is "still getting used to his new teammates." Manti Te'o's performance during the forty yard dash left much to be desired (see John Harbaugh's reaction) There is no question that Te'o's stock has fallen after a poor showing at the NFL Combine therefore, "he will have to work extra hard to show NFL teams that he is indeed worth a first round pick."

8:15 Jack Armstrong – NBA on TSN

The Raptors played a very bad game last night vs. the Washington Wizards. The worst part is that "the Raptors kicked away a really good opportunity." Last night's loss really quashed some of the momentum they had established leaving little margin for error. The Raptors can't allow themselves to fall back into bad habits (4-19 start), & really need to work on establishing a better shot selection. The playoffs are still possible, but are quickly slipping out of reach….

8:45 John Kryk – Sun Media NFL Columnist

Manti Teo had to answer some tough questions during the NFL Combine. Many teams are leery of drafting the University of Notre Dame linebacker, citing "trust issues" as the crux of the argument. The Kansas City Chiefs appear to have the inside track to acquire San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Alex Smith, as Andy Reid is under immense pressure to "turn this Kansas City team around." Rumours have suggested that Tom Brady could've gotten more money, but instead settled for a "cap friendly" hit in order for Patriots management to keep their roster intact.

Darren Dreger and Jim Ralph join Mike for Leafs Breakfast to chat about Toronto's matchup with the Flyers tonight which marks James van Riemsdyk's return to Philadelphia. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Hour 1:

Memorable moments from last night's Oscars, Dan Beyer reports on the NFL combine, & the "Wheel of Hate." Audio

Hour 2:

Pierre McGuire, Darren Dreger, & Jim Ralph preview tonight's game vs. the Flyers, Roberto Luongo & Manti Teo's girlfriend call in. Audio

Hour 3:

Dean McNulty recaps the Dayotona 500 win, & Bob Weeks discusses Matt Kuchar's performance at the WGC-Accenture World Match Play. Audio

6:30 Dan Beyer – Managing Editor Fox Sports Radio

Dan recaps an eventful week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, and debates whether this event has become too over hyped. One prospect of note is West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Geno Smith. Geno Smith is projected to be a top ten pick, with a bevy of teams interested in his services. Rumours are swirling around the Kansas City Chiefs, who are supposedly interested in acquiring San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Alex Smith. Only time will tell how this all shakes down, but the bottom line is that the 2013 draft is not expected to be a strong quarterback class.

7:15 Pierre McGuire – NHL on NBC Analyst

The Chicago Blackhawks keep on rolling because "their star players have been their star players." Throw those goaltending questions out the window; the Hawks are incredibly focused & really buying into the "team concept" mentality. Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin appears to be on the mend & the Penguins could be keeping him out of the line-up for precautionary reasons. Pittsburgh does have an embarrassment of riches at the AHL level, & once they work on their defensive consistency "this team will be a force to reckon with" The Philadelphia Flyers have turned their season around after a disappointing loss vs. Montreal two weeks ago. The Flyers are now playing with a sense of grit/tenacity that was lacking earlier on in the season. The "coaches challenge" rule could be implemented in the near future, & is absolutely necessary due to the fast paced nature of the NHL

7:45 Leafs Breakfast – Darren Dreger & Jim Ralph

Saturday night's lesson: don't underestimate the Ottawa Senators. Despite missing several All-Stars "this is a very well coached team." A big reason why the Leafs lost on Saturday night was because of their constant turnovers combined with a virtually non-existent fore-check. Nothing left to do but regroup & focus on Philadelphia tonight. The Flyers have really struggled this year predominately due to injury, & the wildly inconsistent play of Claude Giroux/IIlya Bryzgalov. Flyers management has to decide "when to make a move" as they currently sit in 9th place & are far from "out of it." JVR might have a few butterflies upon his return to Philadelphia, where he seemed to fall out of favour with the public because of injuries. The good news is that JVR has blossomed during his brief tenure with Toronto, therefore the future looks bright!

7:45 Leafs Breakfast – Darren Dreger & Steve Simmons

Best thing about the Leafs this season has been their ability to bounce back after a loss & avoid the dreaded “2 bad games in a row” syndrome.  Another major positive for the Leafs is that they are beating teams that are behind them in the standings (not always the case in previous seasons). James Van Riemsdyk has developed some serious chemistry with Phil Kessel & seems to have resurrected his career.  Randy Carlyle will have some tough decisions to make when Joffrey Lupul return to the lineup (never a bad thing for a coach) Jake Gardiner is on the mend & expected to return to the team in the imminent future but “where exactly does he fit into the line-up?” Expect GM Dave Nonis to make some trades in the very near future!

8:00 Dean McNulty – Sun Media Auto Racing Columnist

Yesterday's Daytona 500 will be forever known as the race where "the little lady led the race to the checkered flag" Not only did Danica Patrick finish 8th, she was top 5 for most of the race "and earned the respect/admiration of her peers." Hopefully Danica can build off this momentum & have a career year in 2013.

8:30 Bob Weeks – Score Golf

WGC-Accenture Match Play winner Matt Kuchar could be primed for a breakout year in 2013 & has been extremely consistent throughout the course of his career. Anchored putting has been a hot topic in the PGA over the past few months, at this point in time the PGA Tour has not endorsed a ban on belly putters for fear that "it will deter people from playing the game." Expect a resolution on this debate sometime in the spring.