Raptors news: Gregg Popovich backs Ime Udoka amid Raptors links, Fred VanVleet shouts out fans

The Toronto Raptors will likely head into next season with Nick Nurse as the team’s head coach, but that doesn’t mean that they are totally done looking for a replacement that could step in if Nurse’s performance is not deemed satisfactory. In fact, Toronto is reportedly extending feelers out to gauge the availability of former […]
Raptors news: Gregg Popovich backs Ime Udoka amid Raptors links, Fred VanVleet shouts out fans – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Exploring three internal injury replacements for Mitch White

Heading into this spring, most of the Toronto Blue Jays roster was already set, with 25 of the 26 spots decided upon, leaving room for internal competition involving the final bench position. But another role could open up in the bullpen if Mitch White isn’t ready by Opening Day.
White, acquired by Toronto from the Los Angeles Dodgers at last season’s trade deadline, was impacted by a right shoulder impingement over the winter and entered spring training behind schedule. The injury is behind him, although it significantly delayed his off-season throwing program, forcing him to build up his stamina in camp with the team before being cleared for game action.
The 28-year-old is still a ways out from that progression, though, as he has yet to face any live hitters thus far. And he’s starting to run up against the clock. He did throw a 40-pitch side session over the weekend, which is a step in the right direction, but he still has a few hurdles to jump before making his 2023 spring debut.

Mitch White, whose spring build-up has been delayed by a right shoulder impingement, is expecting to throw a 40-pitch side session this weekend at Blue Jays camp.
Next steps after that would be facing hitters in a live bullpen and then getting into games.
— Arden …

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Author: Thomas Hall / Blue Jays Nation

heading into most spring This Toronto

Leafs fall 5-2 to the Bruins. Boston snaps three game losing streak: Game Highlights

The Leafs head into the all-star break with 5-2 loss to the Bruins on Wednesday night. It was spirited battle between two for the league’s top teams but ultimately the Bruins ended their three game skid and beat the Leafs for the second straight time. Below are the highlights from the game.
Ilya Samsonov kept the game scoreless early stopping Connor Clifton on the breakaway…

SAMMY 🗣SAMMY 🗣SAMMY 🗣 pic.twitter.com/Lh51XV3Ssx
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 2, 2023

Midway through the first Rasmus Sandin had a chance to put the Leafs up one but Linus Ullmark shut the door…

at that moment, Sandin’s eyes became dinner plates
good save by Ullmark pic.twitter.com/2f4Sxfd9gW
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 2, 2023

Late in the period David Pastrnak chipped the puck past Morgan Reilly to create a scoring chance. Samsonov continued his stellar play with a sprawling pad save…

his name is Ilya Samsonov pic.twitter.com/ruL9E7p3LU
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 2, 2023

The Leafs got their first powerplay early in the second but it was the Bruins who struck first. Charlie Coyle found Derek Forbort all alone and he buried the shorty to make it 1-0…

SHORTY ALERT. 🚨
Derek Forbort breaks the ice in the second period with this short-handed beauty. pic.twitter.com/pV86NgNaL8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 2, 2023

Toronto redeemed themselves on the powerplay a few minutes later. Samsonov made a heads up pass to Mitch Marner, catching the Bruins on a line change. Marner walked in and sniped it blocker side to make it 1-1…

Sammy serving, again 🍽 pic.twitter.com/bK501pSrs0
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 2, 2023

The game wouldn’t stay tied for long as Brandon Carlo flipped one past Samsonov with 7:27 to go in the second frame…

Brando brought it 💯 pic.twitter.com/65WeVSDE6U
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 2, 2023

AJ Greer doubled the lead for Boston a couple minutes into the third. He fought off the David Kampf backcheck and wired a wrister top shelf to make it 3-1…

A top shelf tally by @ajgreer_10 extends the @NHLBruins lead. 🔝
📺: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/uEVY6yXLpz #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/TPkb4iuaDH
— NHL (@NHL) February 2, 2023

On the ensuing faceoff Wayne Simmonds tried to spark the boys by dropping the gloves with Greer. Simmonds absolutely teed off, land …

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Author: Scott Ony / The Leafs Nation

AllStar break head into Leafs’ with

Cito Gaston is apparently among the possible candidates to be considered for the Hall of Fame by the Era Committee this year

A former Blue Jay was elected into the Hall of Fame this year by the Era Committee. Might we see another one make it in next time around?

According to Jon Morosi, long-time Blue Jay manager Cito Gaston is among the possible candidates for the next Baseball Hall of Fame Era Committee vote in December…

Jim Leyland, Cito Gaston and Brian Sabean are among the possible candidates for the next @baseballhall era committee vote in December 2023.
I’ll examine their candidacies coming up at 10:30 am ET on @MLBNetwork. Please join us! @Tigers @BlueJays @SFGiants @Yankees
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 27, 2023

The Era Committee, which is also known as the Veterans Committee, is how player get voted into the Hall of Fame if they didn’t make it during their 10-year eligibility on the BBWAA ballot after they retired. It’s also a way for managers, umpires, and other members of the game who aren’t a part of the BBWAA voting can get in as well.
Much like the standard Hall of Fame vote, there are 16 members on the Era Committee and a person needs 75 percent of the votes among that committee to be elected into Cooperstown.
This year’s panel was comprised of Hall of Fame members Greg Maddux, Jack Morris, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith, Frank Thomas and Alan Trammell, Major League executives Paul Beeston, Theo Epstein, Derrick Hall, Arte Moreno, Kim Ng, Dave St. Peter, and Ken Williams, along with veteran media members Steve Hirdt, LaVelle Neal and Susan Slusser. Fred McGriff was elected with 16 of 16 votes, while Don Mattingly, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and a handful of others didn’t make the cut.

Cito Gaston’s career…
Gaston signed with the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1964 and made his big-league debut with the t …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

Blue elected Fame former Hall into

Fred VanVleet’s disasterclass in Hawks loss shows he must defer to Scottie Barnes

Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors went into a game against a quality Eastern Conference opponent with momentum for the first time in weeks. With the Atlanta Hawks going through some turbulent times, this seemed like an ideal team to try and get a fourth straight win against. The first quarter, naturally, started with a […]
Fred VanVleet’s disasterclass in Hawks loss shows he must defer to Scottie Barnes – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Fred into Raptors Toronto VanVleet went

Painful loss vs. 76ers uncovers vital truth about Pascal Siakam, Raptors’ roster

Pascal Siakam and the Toronto Raptors came into their matchup against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers with eight losses in their last 10 games. Even with O.G. Anunoby returning to the fold, the Raptors were met with a very difficult game on the second night of a back-to-back in hostile territory. The Raptors actually […]
Painful loss vs. 76ers uncovers vital truth about Pascal Siakam, Raptors’ roster – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

came into Pascal Raptors Siakam Toronto

Raptors: Is Scottie Barnes still untouchable in trade talks?

Coming into the season, Toronto Raptors fans had huge expectations for Scottie Barnes. The franchise had picked the Florida State power forward with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He repaid their faith by producing a stellar debut campaign that saw him being crowned the 2021-22 Rookie of the Year ahead of […]
Raptors: Is Scottie Barnes still untouchable in trade talks? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Sourav Mahanty / Raptors HQ

coming fans into Raptors season Toronto

Around the quarter mark, which Leafs forward has underwhelmed?

Tomorrow, the calendar rolls into December. American Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we have completed over 25% of the NHL regular season. The Leafs have played 24 games, and currently sit at 14-5-5. They have 33 points, and trail only Boston (who are having a historic start).
Just like last season, they came out of the blocks a little slow. Also replicating last season – the Buds have absolutely torched November. They’ve lost only 1 game in regulation this month, and have done so with some major injuries on the back end and in net. Multiple early questions have been answered, and the overall feel in Toronto is positive.
The d-core has performed heroically considering the injuries, and the goaltending has been very impressive. Most of the forwards have performed adequately, and there have even been some pleasant surprises up front. So, who hasn’t exactly pulled their weight? With more than a quarter of the 82 games played, our sample size is large enough to offer some evaluation.
Alex Kerfoot has had a lacklustre start to this campaign. In a season where many forwards are playing very well, Kerfoot would probably be the first to tell you he hasn’t contributed enough. Given his contract situation, and how he operates within this forward group, #15 is an interesting player to examine.
It should be said, I h …

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Author: Bennett Jull / The Leafs Nation

American calendar December into rolls tomorrow

1 stud and 1 dud as depleted Raptors get flattened by Nets

Thad Young and the Toronto Raptors went into the season expecting names like Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, and Fred VanVleet to lead them to the promised land. In their second matchup of the season against Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets, none of them were active. Toronto was missing six rotation players in this game. […]
1 stud and 1 dud as depleted Raptors get flattened by Nets – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

into Raptors Thad Toronto went young

Hot starts for Horvat and Robertson, Blues lose eight straight: NHL Notebook

We are just over a month into the NHL season and there are a couple players that have been exceeding expectations and a team that’s playing its way into the Bedard sweepstakes.
Bo Horvat and Jason Robertson have been single handily winning games for the Canucks and Stars. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues are in the midst of their longest regulation losing streak in franchise history.
Bo Horvat
A few months ago Canucks fans were saying this guy isn’t even worth 6M per year. Well, now he’s second in the NHL in goals. With four multi-goal games in his last five he’s now at 12 on the year in just 13 games.
It’s a contract year for the Canucks captain and he’s playing his way out of their price range. His 16 points in 13 games have him on pace to shatter his career high of 61 set back in 2018-19. They chose to lock up JT Miller for seven more years instead of their captain whose two years younger and it looks like they’re going to regret it.
Unless they buy out Oliver Ekman-Larsson or trade one of Tyler Myers or Conor Garland it’s looking like Horvat will be play …

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Author: Scott Ony / The Leafs Nation

into just month over season There