Thanks Ken Holland, the Leafs can now afford to re-sign Zach Hyman

Last week, the Edmonton Oilers locked up Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to a contract extension worth $5.125 million per year over a max-term of eight years with a full no-movement clause. Most members of the Edmonton media and the team’s loyal fanbase see the deal as a win-win. A former 1st-overall draft pick and core member of their team commits the twilight years of his prime to the team that drafted him at a noteworthy discount that will give GM Ken Holland some flexibility to navigate the flat salary cap and attempt to make the Oilers an overall better team.
So the one question that remains is, as always, how does this affect the Leafs?
Well, it’s quite simple, thanks to this contract signing, Ken Holland and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have set the market and in doing so, effectively killed the (mainstream media perpetuated) narrative that Zach Hyman is going to get contract offers in the range of $6 million a year for six years.
Let’s be real here, as much as we all love Zach Hyman and want to see him be rewarded for several years of stellar play (for a player of his skill level), he’s no Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. …

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Author: Dylan Murphy / The Leafs Nation

Raptors vs. 76ers Game 5 Thread: Updates, TV info, and more

The Raptors are back in Toronto, the series is locked up at 2-2, and the Sixers are hungry to steal back home court advantage. It’s time for Game 5. Let’s watch. The Raptors did the thing they were supposed to do. They got the series back to 2-2, and kept the hopes and dreams of their season alive. Should they have been blown out in Game 3? Should they have even lost Game 2? Should we be here right now in this situation heading into Game 5? Let’s take these answers one at a time — and in the process, assess our mood right now.
First, the Game 3 question. Yes, the Raptors were due for one big game in front of the home crowd from Joel Embiid. The Sixers centre has been that guy all year, and throughout his career. Embiid lives for those big moments in front of his adoring fans and knows just how to play up to them. Heading into the series, I figured Toronto would shrink in one of either Games 3 or 4, and it happened just that way.
But Game 2, well, Toronto should have won that one. How do I know this? Because Game 4 was instructive in how …

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Author: Daniel Reynolds / Raptors HQ