RUMOUR: Leafs interested in MacKenzie Weegar

We are still an hour and half away from all hell breaking loose and free agency opening up, but we have a new name (well not completely new) to add to the list of potential targets for the Leafs today.

And, one name that isn’t the biggest — but will is gaining traction — is FLA’s MacKenzie Weegar. Right-shot D who is arbitration eligible. I think there is interest, and he is exactly the type of player TOR would look at. Enjoy the day!
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 9, 2020

Wow. MacKenzie Weegar has been an analytics favourite, as well as a Leafs twitter favourite for a while based on his strong defensive numbers, and the Leafs appear to looking hard at the 6’0 right shooting defenseman from the Panthers. Given the fact that Florida added Nutivaara last night, it seems reasonable that they were preparing to move out Weegar and backfilling him early.
Weegar’s numbers are impressive:

He compares quite favourably to Jake Muzzin, and Weegar was regularly seeing top pairing minutes as the season ended for Florida last year.

Month
GP
G
A
PTS
PIM
S
S%
ATOI

October
13
3
6
9
11
29
10.3
20:36

November
5
0
1
1
4
5
0
18:14

December
10
0
2
2
7
12
0
19:01

February
13
2
2
4
9
19
10.5
20:20

March
4
2
0
2
2
12
16.7
22:58

via hockey-reference.com

He would certainly address …

Read More

Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Leafs look to claw back to even strength 

In the second half of a back to back the Leafs look to level the playing field with a win in Play-in Series game four. This one will be a thriller, to say the least. A loss in this game will knock the Leafs out of the Playoffs since this is a best of five series. 
 
Fans remain on edge after the result of the game that was less than 24 hours ago. The offense was a positive factor throughout. It had us see a first from Nick Robertson, a short-handed goal from Cody Ceci, and some amazing opportunities (even though they didn’t go in). Having said this, something we could see at the forefront of this stress is what could be called a “defensive slack” from the team, especially in the third. 

Keefe on #Leafs D: “I thought that as a team we didn’t help our defence, and our defence didn’t help itself.”
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) August 7, 2020

It’s something Leafs fans know all too well. They get way too comfortable after achieving a nice lead. Their foot comes off the gas, play is …

Read More

Author: Marsha Joseph / The Leafs Nation

Maple Leafs Pregame #55: 5 things to watch for against the Ducks

We’re on the first half of a back to back and for the first time this season there isn’t any debate over whether Andersen or Hutchinson should start. Instead we’re likely to be treated to the Leafs debut of Jack Campbell, which is a pretty good reason to tune in and a pretty good reason to be excited about this game despite the Leafs losing their past two, and sitting outside a playoff spot.
Let’s talk about the playoff picture a little. The Golden Knights did the Leafs a favour by thumping the Panthers last night, and now Florida just is one point up with one game at hand. Fewer favours were done in the Wild Card race, as the Canes and Isles both won last night, and only the Flyers had the decency to implode against the Devils. That’s right, we’re 100% in scoreboard watching season, which is what we deserve after complaining about preset matchups against the Bruins for the past two years.
As for the Ducks, they lost last night in overtime to Montreal, so you can add tired to the long list of reasons why …

Read More

Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

How confident should you be in the Leafs making the playoffs?

We’re back at it. The second half (actually around 40%) of the season is in swing, and in case you haven’t noticed, the Leafs are trying to fight their way into a playoff spot – not exactly a place we would’ve thought they’d be hanging out when things got started in October.
But it is what it is, and there’s no mystery to how we got here. The team utterly quit on Mike Babcock in the opening portion of the season, skidding hard to a losing record and forcing management to make a change. A lot of damage had already been done and the hole had been dug, but with the arrival of Sheldon Keefe has come a much better on-ice product and a semi-surge in the standings. The games are also outright more fun to watch.
Still, even with the improvements, Toronto finds itself on the bubble. Truly.

As of today, the team is two points from both the second wildcard and third in the Atlantic. But things are jammed up; Tampa, Florida, and both wildcard teams are within easy striking distance. Third in the Metro (the Isles right now) …

Read More

Author: Ryan Fancey / The Leafs Nation

Five biggest games left on the Toronto Raptors’ schedule

Moving into the second half of the season, what are the five biggest games left on the Toronto Raptors’ schedule? Through the midway mark of the 2019-20 NBA season, we have to say: so far, so good for the Toronto Raptors, right? The team currently possesses the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 31-14. […]
Five biggest games left on the Toronto Raptors’ schedule – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Thomas Valentine / Raptors HQ

Three takeaways from Toronto Raptors rout vs Brooklyn Nets

The Toronto Raptors took over in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets as they walked away with an impressive win on the road. What did we learn from the game? Looking to make amends for an ugly, ugly loss against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, the Toronto Raptors traveled to New York to […]
Three takeaways from Toronto Raptors rout vs Brooklyn Nets – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Thomas Valentine / Raptors HQ

Three takeaways from Toronto Raptors pull away victory vs Hornets

After a first half battle, the Toronto Raptors pulled away to beat the Charlotte Hornets in blowout fashion. What were the game’s main takeaways? Everyone loves to focus on big-time matchups. And to be fair, games against the NBA’s elite are more fun. You can’t blame anyone for being more excited to watch the Toronto […]
Three takeaways from Toronto Raptors pull away victory vs Hornets – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Mike Bossetti / Raptors HQ

Grades from Toronto Raptors second half route of the Charlotte Hornets

After a closely contested first half, the Toronto Raptors took care of business at home against the Charlotte Hornets. Who performed well in the win? The Charlotte Hornets entered this game with a feisty 6-7 record despite lacking a great deal of NBA talent. And while they might not seem like one at first, they […]
Grades from Toronto Raptors second half route of the Charlotte Hornets – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Mike Bossetti / Raptors HQ

Toronto Raptors: Marc Gasol has cemented his place in the Hall of Fame

The last three and a half months have been a wild ride for Marc Gasol. The Toronto Raptors and Spain center has now firmly cemented his place in the Hall of Fame. First, he was an NBA Champion with the Toronto Raptors – winning he, and the Raptors first-ever NBA title. Now, three and a […]
Toronto Raptors: Marc Gasol has cemented his place in the Hall of Fame – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Read More

Author: Thomas Valentine / Raptors HQ

Raptors struggle in Game 2, lose to the Warriors 109-104

Toronto played a strong first half, but let the Warriors get into their usual groove in the third quarter. It cost them the game, and now the Raptors head to Oakland tied 1-1 in the Finals. The whole city was riding high the last three days, as the Toronto Raptors won their first ever NBA Finals game. The juggernaut Golden State Warriors they were matched-up against were feeling, as a result of injuries and depleted depth, more vulnerable than they’d ever been. The Raptors were one home win away from seizing control of the series, positioning themselves as the team to potentially end this Warriors’ dynasty. Kawhi Leonard was going to re-sign, Kyle Lowry was re-writing all the narratives. Everything was perfect.
And yet, the Warriors are still the Warriors, and tonight, in very typical Warriors fashion, they were able to build the Raptors’ hopes up, only to dash them, winning a tight 109-104 game on the back of a crushing third quarter run.
The game was something of a two-man show to start, with Klay Thompson carrying Golden State while Kawhi Leonard dominated for the Raptors. Toronto’s floor spacers missed some easy early shots, but Leonard got …

Read More

Author: Jacob M. Mack / Raptors HQ