THURSDAY RUNDOWN: LOTS OF HOCKEY TALK PLUS JSB!

On an exciting day in sports, we grappled with all the issues on Episode #335 of The RP Show – Canada’s Daytime Sports Talk Show! Here’s the rundown:

• Rod and Dupes opened with The Warmup covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) 24 hours to NHL Free Agency, 2) Chaos in the NFL, 3) 23 positive Covid cases with the Tennessee Titans, 4) NHL Draft recap (28 WHL players are selected), 5) Are the Astros and Dodgers on a collision course for the World Series?, and 6) It’s CFL SIM Game Day! Saskatchewan visits Ottawa at 7:00 pm MT on the RP Show Facebook channel.
• TSN 690 Montreal’s Joey Alfieri pinch-hit in The Warmup to break down the Max Domi trade and the Habs’ plans going into free agency. He admitted that Domi and Canadiens coach Claude Julien didn’t see eye-to-eye and a trade was the only option. Joey agrees with Domi that he’s a 2nd line centre but Julien does not. Alfieri also feels Montreal will be in on free agent forward Taylor Hall. He offered his thoughts on the Covid explosion in the QMJHL but has no idea how they’ll handle it, and the same goes for the NFL.
• New York City sportscaster Julie Stewart-Binks joined the show from Manhattan. A native Torontonian, she and RP discussed the Ontario government’s proposed ban on bodychecking in the OHL. Rod said there’s barely any contact in junior hockey anyway so if that’s what has to happen, let’s go! JSB went deep on the NFL and scolded the Titans for not taking Covid/NFL protocols seriously. “Titans, you’ve ruined the party!” Julie huffed. She also talked about the recent TV award her show Call It A Night won.
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Poll question was: Will you still watch major junior hockey if there’s no bodychecking? Twitter respondents voted no while Facebook voters answered yes.
• In the Viewer Takeover segment, RP introduced the new feature of “reading hate mail”. One disgruntled follower doesn’t like Rod revealing his political views and Rod said that since his wheelhouse is CFL, NHL, Junior Hockey and NLL but NONE ARE CURRENTLY PLAYING, he’ll talk about whatever he wants. He and Dupes questioned why there’s such a tidal wave of heat right now but realized it’s due to the increase in the show’s popularity. RP laughed that the people of Saskatchewan learned what he’s all about decades ago, but now his reach is coast-to-coast.
• Hour 2 was broadcast on Facebook Live only and we were joined by Columbus Blue Jackets pro scout Rich Sutter. The 13-year NHL veteran broke down the Domi trade and feels being traded twice in two years will “wake Domi up”. He feels the former London Knight has a tremendous upside if he’s focused. Regarding the Blue Jackets’ off-the-board first round pick Yegor Chinakhov, Rich said it surprised him but team management wanted a player who could play right away. Speaking from his home in Lethbridge, Sutter predicted several more earth-shaking moves in the NHL in the days ahead and also reflected on his tour of the Great Western Brewery in Saskatoon this week.
• Rod went on a deep rant saying some teams (including the Titans and Raiders) are ruining it for everybody by not taking Covid protocols seriously and also doesn’t believe all the rumours around Return To Play in junior hockey. He feels that at the moment, PEOPLE are the problem by not falling in line with government guidelines.
• Regina Mayor Michael Fougere joined the bunker to discuss the November 9 civic election and said his record speaks for itself, and is hopeful Regina voters agree. He feels that now’s not the time to pursue a downtown multipurpose entertainment facility, particularly if public funds are required.
• Thursday’s show is available for viewing now on our Facebook page, you can catch the replay at 4:00 pm ET on Game+ TV, listen to the podcast by clicking on the CONTENT tab at the top of this page, or you can listen anytime to our 24-hour live audio feed at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive.
• See you at 10 am MT on Friday for another Football Friday!