Toronto Raptors: Masai Ujiri should keep an eye on Sekou Doumbouya

Toronto Raptors: Masai Ujiri should keep an eye on Sekou Doumbouya

The Toronto Raptors might have filled out most of their rotation during the 2020-21 offseason, but Masai Ujiri will always keep an ear to the ground with the hopes of adding a player that could be a difference-maker or reclamation project. Ujiri may get his wish in the form of Sekou Doumbouya, who has fizzled […]
Toronto Raptors: Masai Ujiri should keep an eye on Sekou Doumbouya – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Digging into late-round pick Nick Fraze’s strong season with Vancouver

It’s safe to say that most late round picks of the MLB draft don’t make it to their respective team’s top 30 prospects, much less make a name for themselves in the big leagues. Toronto Blue Jays’ 22nd round pick from 2019, Nick Fraze, is well on his way to breaking into the former, with the potential to make the latter. We’ll get to that, firstly, let’s go over the history of 22nd round picks and their success in the big leagues.

If you were to give me a list of baseball players picked in the 22nd round since 1965, I can name you 1409 players. 114 of which played a game in the MLB and only 22 of those players have a Wins Above Replacement over 4. A player picked in the 22nd round has a 1.6% chance of becoming impactful.
Furthermore, there is a possibility that some of these players were drafted out of high school and decided to go to College to raise their stock, such as Aaron Nola, who was picked 7th overall three years later. The most notable of players who didn’t get re-drafted are John Smoltz, who had a bWAR of 69, nice, Andy Piettitte, Jeff Fassero, …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

Kyle Lowry era ends as Raptors eye sign-and-trade with Heat

Kyle Lowry era ends as Raptors eye sign-and-trade with Heat

The Toronto Raptors have been one of the most consistent winners in the NBA over the last few years, and the presence of Kyle Lowry at the point guard position is a huge reason why. Lowry’s resume will put him in the hallowed halls of Springfield one day. Lowry remained one of the more statistically […]
Kyle Lowry era ends as Raptors eye sign-and-trade with Heat – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Trade Deadline Wrap-Up

Trade Deadline day is almost always one of the most disappointing days of the year. Whether you’re disappointed because of the players that went out, or with the players who came in, or the moves that could have been made and weren’t, there’s something for everyone today.
Let’s have a look at what went down in the Blue Jays world on the 2021 trade deadline.
To Oakland: Starling Marte
To Miami: Jesus Luzardo
Impact on The Blue Jays: Oakland is currently the team Toronto is chasing in the second Wild Card spot, and Marte is a bonafide star outfielder both at the plate and in the field. The Blue Jays were likely not in on Marte, with such a loaded outfield and the acquisition cost would have been too high for them if they were. Jesus Luzardo has struggled at the major league level, but he’s no doubt a promising young piece comparable to Nate Pearson from The Blue Jays who has also had his own trials and tribulations at the Major League level.
To New York: Joey Gallo, John King
To Texas: Everson Pereira, Trevor Hauver, Josh Smith, Ezequiel Duran, Randy Vazquez, Glenn Otto
Impact …

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Author: DeuceDoucette / Blue Jays Nation

Around the NHL: Winners and losers from the start of free agency

The start of free agency is easily one of the most exciting times on the hockey calendar, as teams take this opportunity to bring in some players to help improve their roster, giving up no assets except cap space. However, in a flat cap era, cap space is an extremely important asset, and wasting it can ruin your team for years, even worse than a bad trade or drafting a bust with a high pick.
With that, there are always winners and losers in free agency. Some teams make out really well bringing in good players on low or market value deals, and others get greedy, sign a ton of okay players to contracts that won’t age well, and then pay for it down the road (just look at all the assets teams have had to give up to get rid of bad contracts this offseason).
So, let’s take a look at some of the biggest winners (and losers) from the first couple of days of free agency.
Loser: Edmonton Oilers
Let’s start with maybe the most tragic one (only because I feel terrible for Connor McDavid), but after already weakening the roster by bringing in Duncan …

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Author: Scott Maxwell / The Leafs Nation

Leafs sign Pavel Gogolev to an entry level contract

Last season Pavel Gogolev was the most promising prospect playing in the Leafs system without actually having a commitment to the Leafs. That changed today…

We’ve signed forward Pavel Gogolev to a three-year entry level contract. #LeafsForever
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 29, 2021

SEASON
TEAM
LEAGUE
GP
G
A
TP
PIM

2016-17
 Peterborough Petes
OHL
53
5
6
11
20

 Russia U17
WHC-17
6
1
0
1
4

2017-18
 Peterborough Petes
OHL
66
30
17
47
41

2018-19
 Peterborough Petes
OHL
29
7
12
19
20

 Guelph Storm
OHL
8
3
6
9
4

2019-20
 Guelph Storm
OHL
63
45
51
96
66

2020-21
 Väsby IK
HockeyAllsvenskan
12
2
1
3
4

 Toronto Marlies
AHL
13
6
6
12
4

via eliteprospects.com

From Elite Prospects:
Gogolev is such a dexterous puck-carrier. He plays the puck within a defender’s triangle, with his elbow free from his body, and fluid wrist movements throughout. His ability to corral the puck and swiftly transition into a curl-and-release shot makes him a legitimate two-touch threat every time he secures the puck in the offensive zone.
By now you’re probably assuming that Gogolev is 5’7 and weighs 140 lbs soaking wet, but fear not enemies of short kings, Gogolev is 6’1 and 179 lbs. He can certainly add to that frame, but I’m betting he’ll be here to score not crush souls.
Getting a 21 year old for free certainly makes up (a little) for …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Raptors rumors: Pelicans open up space for Kyle Lowry after huge trade

Raptors rumors: Pelicans open up space for Kyle Lowry after huge trade

Most of the Toronto Raptors rumors that have sprouted up over the last few weeks have pertained to star point guard Kyle Lowry, as the future Hall of Famer could be contemplating leaving Canada after spending nearly a decade with Toronto. While teams like the Lakers, Heat, and 76ers have been linked to Lowry given […]
Raptors rumors: Pelicans open up space for Kyle Lowry after huge trade – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Deadline Primer: Position Players

The Toronto Blue Jays boast one of the most fearsome offences in baseball. There aren’t going to be many opportunities to upgrade that makes enough sense to give up assets, but for the fun of it, we’ll look at some potential options for deadline targets in the field.

Reasonable Targets
Yan Gomes – C – Washington Nationals
Gomes made his major league debut with The Blue Jays in 2012 and was dealt to The Cleveland Indians for Esmil Rogers in one of the more scrutinized trades in recent memory. He’s an above-average bat with great game calling and receiving skills, putting together in one package the things that the Jays currently have spread out across 3 catchers. The acquisition cost should be low enough, and the residual impact he could have on not only the club’s offensive output, but the entire pitching staff could be well worth the loss of either, or maybe both of, Danny Jansen and Reese McGuire.
Trey Mancini  – OF/1B – Baltimore Orioles
The Blue Jays are loaded in the outfield with a rotation of four everyday guys patroling the grass, and another serviceable bat and glove in Corey Dickerson on the way. Mancini hasn’t had …

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Author: DeuceDoucette / Blue Jays Nation

Toronto Raptors: Promising second-round target dominates in workout

Toronto Raptors: Promising second-round target dominates in workout

The Toronto Raptors will spend most of their time deciding if a player like Jalen Suggs or Evan Mobley should be the team’s selection at No. 4 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, but they also need to iron out a plan for the No. 46 and No. 47 overall picks. After a strong workout, […]
Toronto Raptors: Promising second-round target dominates in workout – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Should the Toronto Maple Leafs target Zach Parise and Ryan Suter?

If you’re a hockey fan, it’s the most wonderful time of the year right now, or at least one of them given that is it officially the NHL off-season and things are going to get very interesting in the coming weeks and months leading up to the next NHL season. This off-season is only days in and we have already seen some trades, some hirings, some retirements, some big rumours and even some buyouts.
It’s no secret that this off-season was going to be a crazy one due to a bunch of circumstances. For starters, the COVID pandemic is still affecting the league which is affecting the salary cap which is ultimately affecting teams to keep certain players on their team. Secondly, there’s an expansion draft just around the corner and with a new team coming into the league, teams are bound to lose potentially an important player on their team.
With that said, within days we’ve seen a bunch of different things happen in the NHL and more specifically we saw the Minnesota Wild buyout, not one, but two of the massive contracts that they signed back in 2012. The Zach Parise and Ryan Suter …

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Author: Joseph Zita / The Leafs Nation