Zach Hyman returns to Maple Leafs practice

As the NHL’s return to play inches closer each day, the Toronto Maple Leafs are filling out their opening night lineup. One name that has been absent for the team’s last few practices is Zach Hyman, who went down after blocking a shot from Jason Spezza on Friday. Fortunately, Hyman rejoined the Leafs’ main practice on Tuesday, saying he felt great.

Zach Hyman on his return to the ice: “It feels great to back, felt like it was longer than a couple of days mentally. Took a shot there [on Friday] so it was just precautionary, but I’m feeling good.”
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) July 21, 2020

During his absence, Nick Robertson found himself filling Hyman’s spot alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Although Robertson played very well during the team’s scrimmages, Hyman’s return is hugely beneficial to the Leafs.
Hyman already found himself back in his usual spot on the first line during practice, skating with Matthews and Mitch Marner. The fact that he felt it was longer than a couple of days just proves how eager he is to get these playoffs going. His return increases the Leafs …

Read More

Author: Matthew Rodrigopulle / The Leafs Nation

CBA Update: Entry Level Contracts

Each season we see a new crop of rookies break into the National Hockey League, and each season it seems the group grows larger and more talented. Players like Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, and Jack Eichel sign their ELCs immediately after they are drafted, then immediately become top players in the league.
Those players are the exception though, every year there are 200 players drafted that take a different path in their first season after being drafted. Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin jumped to the American Hockey league, Nicolas Robertson and Mikhail Abramov returned to the CHL, Pontus Holmberg remained in Europe. For these players an ELC is something that must be worked towards and negotiated, the first step in a long process of making it to the NHL.
Regardless of which group a young player falls into, the upper limit on their contracts were virtually the same for a very long time. Any player drafted beginning in 2011 had a maximum ELC of $925,000, with Schedule A performance bonuses of $850,000. and Schedule B performance Bonuses of $2m. The minimum ELC would be equal to the minimum league salary, which has comparatively changed a lot over the same period. When the current CBA …

Read More

Author: Earl Schwartz / The Leafs Nation

Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are the NBA’s New Emerging Duo

Some things are just meant for each other, like peanut butter and jam, s’ mores at campfires, and more importantly for the Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet. The duo has taken the Toronto Raptors season by storm and has emerged as a top duo in the league, whether it’s on the court or in the […]
Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are the NBA’s New Emerging Duo – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Alexandro Fidanza / Raptors HQ

Apparently the Astros really needed to use their trash can to beat Cesar Valdez and the Blue Jays in 2017

This continues to be the winter of the Houston Asterisks.

With each passing day, more and more information is unearthed about the Astros and the extent to which they banged on trash cans to win baseball games. Yesterday, Tony Adams, an Astros fan, went back and watched all of Houston’s home games from the 2017 season in order to log who was getting signs relayed to them and when it happened. The results are, uh, pretty gross.

Astros trashcan bangs by date.
See all the data at https://t.co/kVtisgUo74. pic.twitter.com/aVkxDPVTQs
— Tony Adams (@adams_at) January 29, 2020

The longest line on the X-axis? That belongs to the Toronto Blue Jays, who got shit-kicked 16-7 by the Astros at the beginning of August.
Before I dive into this, I’ll take a quick look at the only member of the Blue Jays who was involved. Derek Fisher received 16 bangs, which represents just 7.6 percent of the pitches he saw that season. The biggest benefactor was Marwin Gonzalez, who received 147 bangs, which was 18.9 percent of his pitches. That would explain why an otherwise pretty shit player posted a .907 OPS out of the blue that season.
The Astros …

Read More

Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

Toronto Raptors: One thing from every game last week, including Pascal Siakam’s struggles

Each week we bring you the most important part of every Toronto Raptors game. This week’s highlights include Pascal Siakam being shut down, Raptors selling out to stop Harden, and an extended look at dual bigs. It was a tough week for the Toronto Raptors. Coming off an impressive seven-game winning streak, the defending champs […]
Toronto Raptors: One thing from every game last week, including Pascal Siakam’s struggles – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Mike Bossetti / Raptors HQ

One thing from every Toronto Raptors game last week: Erasing number one options

Each week we bring you the most important play, stat, or moment from every Toronto Raptors game. This week’s highlights include Joel Embiid’s zero, Norman Powell’s emergence, and more. The Toronto Raptors had an excellent week six, going 4-0 with two wins against top-tier opponents. In what appears to be the team’s final games without […]
One thing from every Toronto Raptors game last week: Erasing number one options – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Mike Bossetti / Raptors HQ

One thing from every Toronto Raptors game last week: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson still has limitations

Each week we bring you the most important play, stat, or moment from every Toronto Raptors game. This week’s highlights include Raptors’ historic passing, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s limitations, and more. After a 3-0 stretch against a particularly easy set of opponents, the Toronto Raptors currently sit at 11-4. Despite their offseason losses, despite the injuries to […]
One thing from every Toronto Raptors game last week: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson still has limitations – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Mike Bossetti / Raptors HQ

One thing from every Toronto Raptors game last week: Is Marc Gasol done as a scorer?

Each week we bring you the most important play, stat, or moment from every Toronto Raptors game. This week’s highlights include Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s emergence, Marc Gasol might be finished, and more. After a tremendous start to the season, the Toronto Raptors cooled off a little in week four. It wasn’t a disastrous week, finishing 1-2 […]
One thing from every Toronto Raptors game last week: Is Marc Gasol done as a scorer? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Mike Bossetti / Raptors HQ

One thing form every Toronto Raptors game last week, including Chris Boucher’s breakout

Each week we bring you the most important play, stat, or moment from every Toronto Raptors game. This week’s highlights include OG Anunoby’s passing, Pascal Siakam’s improved handles, and Chris Boucher going off. The Toronto Raptors have gone through a roller coaster of emotions during the past week. They started off hot, winning their first […]
One thing form every Toronto Raptors game last week, including Chris Boucher’s breakout – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Mike Bossetti / Raptors HQ

Point Man #22: Conley and Lowry finally meet face to face

After dancing around each other for some time, Lowry responds to Conley’s summons, and the pair meet for the first time since the former’s return to the city. After messing with his work, and planning a job of his own, Lowry responds to the call from Mike Conley. It’s time these two cleared the air, because what’s coming their way could be bigger than both of them.
Catch up on Page 21 of POINT MAN here.
Words: Daniel Reynolds
Art: Michael Kennedy (on Instagram and Twitter)

Read More

Author: Daniel Reynolds / Raptors HQ