Oliver Bonk is a right shot defenceman the Maple Leafs may select at 28th overall

There are few things in hockey more exciting than the lead-up to the draft as your favourite team gets to select the next generation of players that could one day join the group. Whether it’s a team hoping to get out of the basement or a contender hoping to find a hidden gem to help elevate the club, speculation on who will get selected where is always one that will get people talking.
The Leafs are no different, even if they only have three picks to work with when they head to Nashville later this month. While it remains to be seen whether they will stick with what they got, add more picks, or take some away, they are certainly plenty of intriguing options for them to consider when they are on the clock.
It is the first-round pick acquired in the Rasmus Sandin trade that is bound to get the most attention from Leafs fans in the coming weeks. After all, finding a player of equal or greater value than what they took away in the Sandin deal is integral to the transaction being a success. Luckily for them, there is no shortage of quality players for them to look at (heck, they even draft …

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Author: Michael Mazzei / The Leafs Nation

Radim Zohorna makes first impression, Toronto continues strong push: Marlies Weekly

It was a losing week for the Marlies, but they did get an exciting addition, who could provide some needed size to the forward group.
Toronto began the week with a school day game against Rockford, hoping to extend their lead in the North Division. And well, they did just that.
Max Ellis scored two big goals for the Marlies, in the second and third periods, to help them push past the IceHogs 5-3. Pontus Holmberg also found the back of the net, with an assist going to Tommy Miller, who had two in the game.
Erik Kallgren stopped 21 of the 24 shots he faced and at the end of the game had an 8-5-2 record with an .885 save percentage.
Those school day games are loud and likely helped give Toronto a push in the right direction. However, you couldn’t say the same about Friday’s game in Hershey.
The Marlies started off very slow only tallying 11 shots through the first two periods while the Bears put up double that. Hershey was able to find the back of the net three times in the second period, and honestly, it didn’t look like Toronto had it in them to come back.
But they pushed.
Marc Johnstone started the scoring, finding the back of the net for his …

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

Another bullpen meltdown results in the Blue Jays splitting the two-game series in Philly

Last night’s game was exciting in its own way. The Blue Jays and the Phillies combined for 29 runs, Jackie Bradley Jr. homered, and position players pitched. Tonight, it was a pitcher’s duel for seven innings, followed by the Blue Jays blowing a late 3-0 lead.

Unfortunately, Philadelphia ended up winning tonight’s contest 4-3, as Matt Vierling capped off a 5-for-5 night with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning. Jordan Romano blew his second consecutive save, the first time in his career that that has happened, and Yimi Garcia continued to show some concerning signs as the bullpen couldn’t back up a great start from Kevin Gausman.

Blue Jays bullpen: Last 6 games
ERA 8.51Opponents AVG .306WHIP 1.81
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) September 22, 2022

So, how did we get there?
The game seemed in hand in the 8th inning for the Blue Jays, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smoked a 3-run home run off of Phillies reliever Seranthony Dominguez to give Toronto a 3-0 lead. No one had scored through the first seven innings of the game, but Guerrero Jr. quickly ended that trend with his 30th home run, now only 12 RBIs shy of a 30-100 season. Guerrero also drove his hitting streak to 14 games, amidst what most would call a “slump” considering how much he is hitting the ball on the ground.
If you’re in for a good laugh, Guerrero absolutely deflated the emotions of the Phillies’ broadcasters with that home run…

“Oh man.” pic.twitter.com/glLtSbZOta
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) September 22, 2022

The …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation