Which Leafs are going to break out in 2022?

Yesterday we ran some of our 2022 predictions. Predictably the predictions focused on whether or not the Leafs could make it out of the first round of the playoffs. I left the question too open, that’s on me.
Today we’ll get more specific with our predictions and we’ll talk about which Leaf is primed for a breakout year in 2022.
Nick Barden
Ilya Mikheyev. I think with him coming back from injury and the Leafs with a lot of good players challenging for spots, he’s going to come in with a chip on his shoulder. I truly believe (and hope) it’s Mikheyev.
Joseph Zita
Ondrej Kase
Michael Mazzei
Petr Mrazek
Roxanne Khasow
Justin Holl
Nick Richard
He has proven to be a valuable member of the team since day one but we have really seen Ondrej Kase start to step up as of late. He has been a key member on the Leafs’ shutdown line while playing a key role on the penalty kill but has managed one of the highest shots on goal totals on the team despite limited time on the powerplay or in the top-six to this point. There is clearly more offense in …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

TLN Predicts the where the Leafs finish and who will be hardest to beat this season

It’s prediction season. Either you like predictions or you don’t. We’re erring on the side of predictions being fun, and that’s why I’ve tapped the TLN Crew on the shoulders and/or stalked them online for the past two weeks attempting to gather our predictions you can take to the bank as well as some of our hottest takes for the upcoming season. We’ve decided to split our predictions into two posts, first looking at the Leafs as a whole and their place in the league, and the tomorrow with a look at our predictions around individual players on the Leafs.
Predictions are meant to be fun, but also to give you a chance to yell at us. I hope you’ll take advantage of both.

So let’s start with the fact that overall 10 out of 14 contributors are optimistic about the Leafs this year. That’s encouraging. While there was optimism, that optimism had its limits and no one predicts a Leafs Stanley Cup win this year. As for the some other option that could only happen to the Leafs response, one of them seems to be leaning heavily into an unfortunate in …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Toronto Raptors mock draft roundup: Jalen Suggs is the popular pick

Toronto Raptors mock draft roundup: Jalen Suggs is the popular pick

Most Toronto Raptors mock draft predictions had to be thrown out as soon as Nick Nurse and the rest of the squad jumped up in the lottery order and ended up with the No. 4 selection in the 2021 NBA Draft. After a season spent in Tampa, the Raptors finally catch a break. With Cade […]
Toronto Raptors mock draft roundup: Jalen Suggs is the popular pick – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Some bold predictions for the Leafs heading into a busy week

As we kick off a post about bold predictions, it seems necessary to dump some very cold water on our expectations for this week. While it seems the Leafs are likely to make a move of significant substance, it is probably going to be that one move and maybe some accompanying filler. Nothing we heard from Dubas on Monday alludes to him scorching the earth and trading the core. While there seems to be an understanding that the Leafs can find money, finding money for Pietrangelo still seems like an uphill battle, and to some extent it seems we’ve all accepted that and downgraded our hopes.
Still with a 1st round draft pick in play, and seemingly at least one more roster player having to be moved no matter what, opening it up to the TLN contributors on what comes next seems like a good idea, and frankly our predictions are as good as anyone else’s.
Nick Richard (@_nickrichard)
Kyle Dubas trades up in the first round
Dubas’ strategy of trading down during the draft to recoup additional picks is well documented. He was making the calls when the Leafs traded down twice, out of the first round …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Hot Takes From The Farm: Week Ten

As might be expected, my predictions regarding the short season squads last week were somewhat so-so. I point I failed to make was one I was reminded of in the team related news this week – some draftees don’t yet have passports. Alek Mamoah being the prominent example. Such a player who will in all likelihood end up with Vancouver will still have to keep tuned up in Florida until the paperwork is in order, which is a hidden factor when projecting where recent draftees will be assigned.  That said, the Canadians’ season is now underway and the opening day roster is official. Six 2019 draftees have been assigned there already, most notably 4th rounder RF Will Robertson (as expected) but also infielders (shortstops by trade but there can be only one on any given day) Tanner Morris (5th), Cameron Eden (6th) and Trevor Schwecke (13th) and relief(?) pitchers Nick Fraze (22nd) and Gabriel Ponce (28th). The big news though is that last year’s third round choice, Adam Kloffenstien (still just 18) was assigned here after very little game experience in his draft year last season. I wasn’t expecting that. Cuban IFA signing William Gaston, the brother of the more …

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Author: Tammy Rainey / Blue Jays Nation

Trading away Stroman would be a very, very regrettable move

In the name of asset management, there is a lot of speculation and predictions that the current management team are going to look at trading Marcus Stroman. That would be historically awful.

#BlueJays will reportedly try to trade veterans “to get more young talent in Vladdy’s age range”.https://t.co/UBcpf52Q6H
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2019

It’s a historically common thing throughout baseball management. You trade away older players to acquire younger players that will coincide your timeline of where you want to be the most successful. The philosophy makes sense from a broad picture, but in this case with the current Blue Jays, it doesn’t add up.
The goal has been repeated and repeated again — be competitive by 2021. But trading away any of these assets, specifically Stroman, would put them farther back from that goal. No matter what, they’re losing track of their own objective.
Context is needed. Stroman is very good, perhaps even in the top echelon of starters in baseball currently. It’s been consistent throughout his career when he’s healthy. This year is especially proving that he can be dominant.
The third-best ERA in the majors among qualified starters, fifth-best …

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Author: Thomas Williams / Blue Jays Nation