Raptors must make everyone available in Kevin Durant trade talks

Raptors must make everyone available in Kevin Durant trade talks

The Toronto Raptors can take solace in the fact that the Brooklyn Nets‘ grand experiment featuring a collection of superstars has imploded before it really ever began. After the drama surrounding Kyrie Irving, it appears as though Kevin Durant is calling time on his time in New York. Durant asked Nets owner Joe Tsai for […]
Raptors must make everyone available in Kevin Durant trade talks – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

What Svi Mykhailiuk returning in 2022-23 means for Raptors

What Svi Mykhailiuk returning in 2022-23 means for Raptors

The Toronto Raptors saw their bench quality take a severe nosedive as the year went on, and the decline of Svi Mykhailiuk is one of the main reasons. Mykhailiuk went from a rotation fixture to someone that only saw time on the floor when the outcome was decided. While Mykhailiuk earned some spot starts during […]
What Svi Mykhailiuk returning in 2022-23 means for Raptors – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Raptors’ Scottie Barnes going to NBA Finals as social media expert

Raptors’ Scottie Barnes going to NBA Finals as social media expert

The rest of the NBA missed out if they didn’t take a good look at what Toronto Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes was doing during his rookie season. On top of the fact that Barnes was the best rookie in his class, he brought with him incandescent energy both on and off the court. Despite the […]
Raptors’ Scottie Barnes going to NBA Finals as social media expert – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Erik Kallgren has set himself up to be in contention for the backup role for 2022-23

An area of concern for the Leafs to take care of this summer will almost certainly be the goaltending.
By most accounts, Jack Campbell appears to have priced himself out of Toronto and they will try and find a new home for Petr Mrazek after putting him on waivers at the deadline and not reinserting him for the playoffs once he was cleared to return. Meaning the goalie rotation is likely going to look very different by the time opening night rolls around.
Who emerges as the Leafs’ starter for the coming season remains unclear. It could end up being Campbell if he agrees to a hometown discount. Maybe it becomes an option in free agency that fulfills their needs such as Eric Comrie or Darcy Kuemper. Or the answer could be via a big trade, especially given the Leafs still have their first-round pick in hand and it could be used as part of a package to bring in an established netminder (ie: John Gibson).
The Leafs could go in any direction for who takes the mantel of the starting job, but they will not need to think too hard about who will be their backup. That is because Erik Kallgren has earned himself a longer look with the top club and is in contention to become their backup.

Forgot to post the Leafs reaction to Erik Kallgren’s shutout last night. pic.twitter.com/06PGe5vgc5
— Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) March 16, 2022

Kallgren was originally brought into the fold on a two-year entry-level contract and came with an impressive track record that made him an intriguing addition to …

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Author: Michael Mazzei / The Leafs Nation

BJN Radio – Ep. 75: Ranting about the umps, ranting about the bats, ranting about Yankee Stadium, and more!

Take me back to April! May has been awful!!!

After not dropping a single series in April, the Blue Jays have now dropped back-to-back-to-back series in May, as they were swept in a little two-game set in New York.
In this episode of BJN Radio, we talked about the Bad Times In The Bronx, including Yimi Garcia inexplicably getting tossed after plunking Josh Donaldson in the first game, Jordan Romano’s implosion in the ninth, and the overarching struggles of the bats to come up with clutch hits. We also fielded comments from the audience in which listeners sent us their biggest reasons for concern about this team and we replied with whether or not we’re also worried about said things.
In order to not be entirely doom and gloom, we talked about some good stuff, such as Bo Bichette possibly heating up at the plate and, randomly, Kevin Gausman being great. Finally, we looked ahead to the series in Tampa Bay, the last place a struggling team wants to be.
You can listen to the episode here…

POINTSBET IS LIVE IN ONTARIO

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

Maple Leafs’ path to getting past the first round of the playoffs goes through the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning

The Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, beginning with Game 1 set to take place at Scotiabank Arena on Monday.
Heading into the evening, the Lightning needed to record one more point than the Maple Leafs’ opponent on Friday, the Boston Bruins.
The Leafs defeated the Bruins 5-2 in a game that saw both players rest a combined salary cap hit of $72,775,195. The regulation win by Toronto rendered the Lightning’s game against the New York Islanders moot as far as playoff positioning is concerned.
”The main objective tonight was to get through the game healthy and I believe we have,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I was monitoring ice time more than I was monitoring the play to be honest. It was a weird game.”
Apart from William Nylander scoring twice to finish with 34 goals this season and becoming the third player to hit 80 or more points this season and Nick Abruzzese scoring his first NHL goal, there wasn’t anything notable to take from the game.
The focus for the Maple Leafs is now squarely on the task at hand and that’s trying to get past the first round of the playoffs for the first time si …

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Author: David Alter / The Leafs Nation

Off Day Notes: Multiple unvaccinated Red Sox will miss trip to Toronto, the Yankees’ struggles with the Orioles, and more!

The Blue Jays have a day off today, so let’s take a look around the American League.

The big story today is that the Boston Red Sox have multiple unvaccinated players who won’t be able to join the team as they travel to Toronto next week. As of right now, the only one we know about is pitcher Tanner Houck, who would have been lined up to start next Tuesday for the Red Sox in Toronto.

Cora was asked after an 8-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday if he expected to be missing other players.
“Yeah,” Cora said. He was not asked a follow-up question and then ended the press conference.
Asked earlier about Houck, Cora said: “We knew it beforehand, so we’ll plan accordingly.”

Tanner Houck tells the Globe that he’s not vaccinated against COVID-19. Because of Canada’s vaccine mandate, Houck won’t be able to pitch next Tuesday in Toronto.
“I think it’s a personal choice for everyone whether they get it or not,” Houck said
https://t.co/Jj2tNquABz
— Julian McWilliams (@byJulianMack) April 17, 2022

As an aside, the language here is yet another example of the disingenuous way that the Canada-U.S. border situation is being reported on. It’s always “Canada’s laws are making it so this guy can’t enter the country,” when, in reality, the United States has the same rules when it comes to those who are unvaccinated crossing their border. While this as framed as an advantage to the Blue Jays, they’re still up against the same obstacle, and they’ve had to consider vaccine status when putting together their roster.
Anyways! We know Houck, who has a 3.00 ERA over two starts this season, won’t be joining the Sox in Toronto, but we don’t know who else will be staying behind. But before we get there, we have a three-game series in Boston with the Red Sox to think about.
Yusei Kikuchi …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

Doc Rivers calls Scottie Barnes “amazing” ahead of Raptors-76ers

Doc Rivers calls Scottie Barnes “amazing” ahead of Raptors-76ers

Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors are gearing up to take on one of their most hated rivals in the Philadelphia 76ers. The clash between a more experienced 76ers team and the youthful exuberance of Toronto might make this one of the more physical matchups on the postseason calendar. Even though he is just 20 […]
Doc Rivers calls Scottie Barnes “amazing” ahead of Raptors-76ers – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Raptors’ Scottie Barnes makes his case for Rookie of the Year

Raptors’ Scottie Barnes makes his case for Rookie of the Year

The Toronto Raptors didn’t take long to bounce back into the postseason after one season in the lottery, and the performance of standout rookie Scottie Barnes is a huge reason why. An immediate starter and difference-maker, Barnes should be the 2022 Rookie of the Year. His main competition for this award comes in the form […]
Raptors’ Scottie Barnes makes his case for Rookie of the Year – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Raptors Game Tonight: Raptors vs 76ers Odds, Starting Lineup, Injury Report, Predictions, TV Channel for Apr. 7

Raptors Game Tonight: Raptors vs 76ers Odds, Starting Lineup, Injury Report, Predictions, TV Channel for Apr. 7

The Toronto Raptors can take things just a bit easier over the next few days, as they have officially clinched a postseason spot. The latest Raptors odds don’t have them positioned to keep up their winning ways against a team they could square off against in the playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers currently occupy the No. […]
Raptors Game Tonight: Raptors vs 76ers Odds, Starting Lineup, Injury Report, Predictions, TV Channel for Apr. 7 – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ