Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry to be awarded honorary degree

Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry to be awarded honorary degree

Toronto Raptors legend Kyle Lowry has been adorned with many titles over the last few years, including All-Star, potential Hall of Fame player, and NBA champion. In the future, he might need to add “Dr. Kyle Lowry” to that always-growing list. Lowry is in the middle of what many are assuming will be his final […]
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry to be awarded honorary degree – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Why this was the Leafs best trade deadline in a long, long time

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Kyle Dubas made a few moves in the last 24 hours. They acquired Nick Foligno, David Rittich, and today, Ben Hutton. All in all — a solid trade deadline.
But why was this one of their best deadlines in the past? In my latest video, I try to explain that, plus, my thoughts on the Leafs trade deadline as a whole. I hope you enjoy it!

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

Leafs likely aren’t done making moves ahead of the trade deadline

Kyle Dubas was busy on Sunday, making a pair of significant additions to the Leafs’ roster with the clock ticking down towards the trade deadline.
The biggest acquisition was that of Nick Foligno from Columbus in a three-team deal that saw the Leafs ship out their 2021 first and fourth-round picks to the Blue Jackets, and their 2022 fourth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks. Columbus retained 50% of Foligno’s remaining salary and the Sharks retained an additional 25% while also sending depth forward Stefan Noesen back to the Leafs.
Foligno checks a lot of boxes in terms of what the Leafs were looking to add. He can slide up and down the lineup while having the versatility to play wing or center if needed, he plays with an edge, is a strong defensive presence, and brings a bit more of that good old fashioned veteran leadership.
It wasn’t exactly a bargain but adding a player like Foligno to this lineup for a fraction of his salary, in exchange for what should be a late first-round draft pick, is a solid move.
Dubas wasn’t done there, however, as it was announced shortly before midnight that the Leafs had also acquired goaltender …

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Author: Nick Richard / The Leafs Nation

Why did the Leafs trade for David Rittich?

So, Kyle Dubas decided to try and slip one by us before we all went to bed and it didn’t work. The Leafs acquired David Rittich from Calgary in exchange for a third-round pick in 2022 just after 10PM.
This could mean a lot of things (that you’ll have to find out by watching the video)!

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

Leafs trade for Riley Nash for LTIR purposes, more shenanigans likely to ensue

Kyle Dubas has made his first move at the deadline.

TRADE: We’ve acquired forward Riley Nash from Columbus in exchange for a conditional seventh-round selection in 2022. #LeafsForever
Details » https://t.co/IMZ9IimxhL pic.twitter.com/vEFKLdGn4x
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 9, 2021

The Leafs announced that they had acquired Riley Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 7th round pick. Nash comes with a cap hit of $2.75 million and is a UFA at the end of the year.
Now, you may be wondering how Dubas will make the money work in order to make other moves at the deadline. That’s because the Blue Jackets just put Nash on LTIR due to a lower body injury, and he’ll be out for 4-6 weeks, meaning he’ll come back right around playoff time.
The Leafs also just announced Frederik Andersen was put on LTIR retroactive to when he stopped playing to make room for Nash, and then Nash will go on after Andersen is off. The LTIR moves also will give the Leafs some extra cap space going forward, although I’m not even going to try and do the math on that.
Of course, Nash is …

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Author: Scott Maxwell / The Leafs Nation

Maple Leafs’ trade chips beyond the top prospects

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It is no secret that Kyle Dubas has been working the phones in an effort to upgrade the Leafs’ roster ahead of next Monday’s trade deadline and he made headlines just a few weeks ago when he confirmed that Toronto’s top prospects were on the table if it meant adding the right piece.
While the Leafs may lack true elite level prospects, players such as Nick Robertson, Rasmus Sandin, and Rodion Amirov are just below that tier and would hold significant value in the trade market. Moving high end prospects comes with risk, however, as Dubas would be shipping out potentially valuable, cost controlled contributors that carry the potential to be key members of his squad well into the future.
As the deadline approaches and players like Filip Forsberg and Mattias Ekholm are seemingly being taken off the market, a blockbuster deal that would warrant shipping out the organization’s top young talent appears less likely but things can change quickly at this time of year.
There is also the expansion draft and flat salary cap to consider and acquiring another player with term beyond this season could lead to the Leafs losing valuable …

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Author: Nick Richard / The Leafs Nation

Leafs Prospect Roundup: Robertson and Sandin close to returning, awaiting Amirov, Woll shakes off the rust

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While Kyle Dubas continues to search for ways to supplement the Leafs’ lineup prior to the trade deadline, it appears the Marlies will soon have some reinforcements coming from the infirmary. Nicholas Robertson has been on the shelf since March 3rd but he has returned to the ice and could find himself back in the Marlies’ lineup soon, Rasmus Sandin broke his foot in the Marlies’ first game of the season way back on February 15th and he is also close to getting back on the ice, and Ian Scott has been added to the Leafs’ taxi squad to get him some practice reps before getting into a game for the first time since May of 2019.
Robertson and Sandin could eventually factor into the Leafs’ plans this season if they aren’t moved ahead of the deadline, and Marlies’ coach Greg Moore is surely looking forward to having them back in his lineup where they should both play prominent roles. Once fully healthy, Scott will likely compete for starts with Joseph Woll and Veini Vehvilainen.
It also appears now that the Leafs won’t be forced to make a decision on keeping Robertson in the NHL …

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Author: Nick Richard / The Leafs Nation

Toronto Raptors: How would Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson fit on this roster?

Toronto Raptors: How would Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson fit on this roster?

The Kyle Lowry trade rumors have started to heat up considering the slide the Toronto Raptors are currently in the middle of, and the Miami Heat have again resurfaced as a potential team that the Raptors could do business with. Not only is Miami locked in on Lowry, but names like Duncan Robinson and Tyler […]
Toronto Raptors: How would Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson fit on this roster? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Toronto Raptors rumors: Toronto demanding Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson from Heat in Kyle Lowry deal

Toronto Raptors rumors: Toronto demanding Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson from Heat in Kyle Lowry deal

The latest batch of Kyle Lowry trade rumors seems to have plenty of muster to them, as the Miami Heat reportedly “covet” the Toronto Raptors point guard despite the fact that Masai Ujiri has been very tight-lipped about his true intentions at the deadline. However, the latest intel from Kevin O’Connor throws names like Tyler Herro […]
Toronto Raptors rumors: Toronto demanding Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson from Heat in Kyle Lowry deal – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Toronto Raptors: Heat have offered Kendrick Nunn and Goran Dragic in Kyle Lowry trade

Toronto Raptors: Heat have offered Kendrick Nunn and Goran Dragic in Kyle Lowry trade

The Toronto Raptors rumors centered around Kyle Lowry simply will not go away, as even the fact that the veteran point guard shut down some rumors on Instagram has done little to put off teams like the Miami Heat. The Heat remain interested in Lowry, and names like Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn have been […]
Toronto Raptors: Heat have offered Kendrick Nunn and Goran Dragic in Kyle Lowry trade – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ