Exploring whether or not the Leafs truly need more secondary scoring

Let’s start with the obvious answer to the title of this post: secondary scoring couldn’t hurt the Leafs. And let’s start with an obvious caveat that it couldn’t hurt the Leafs as long as their team defense doesn’t suffer due to bringing in more secondary scoring. If the Leafs could drop someone into their lineup tomorrow that would outperform Zach Aston-Reese offensively without having to give up his defensive zone play or his willingness to hit absolutely everything, the Leafs would probably make that upgrade.
Of course, it is more complicated than that, but it’s also worth taking a look at how the Leafs measure up when it comes to their secondary scoring and the challenges that come with that.
First let me establish what I’m using as my definition of primary, secondary, tertiary, and non-scorers.
Primary scorers are the top quarter of forwards in total points per sixty with a minimum of 25 games played. Secondary scorers will be that next quarter of forwards, Tertiary next, and finally your non-scorers make up the bottom group. It’s not the most in depth approach, but it’s simple. It considers all situations as well, and is largely meant to explore the simple idea that the Leafs need secondary scoring. …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

1 stud and 1 dud as Gary Trent Jr, Raptors lose tough game to Pacers

1 stud and 1 dud as Gary Trent Jr, Raptors lose tough game to Pacers

Gary Trent Jr. and the Toronto Raptors looked to start 2023 off the right way, as they had a winnable road game against the Indiana Pacers up on the schedule following a nice victory against the Suns. Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton are tall orders, but Nick Nurse was hoping “Vision 6-9” would derail the […]
1 stud and 1 dud as Gary Trent Jr, Raptors lose tough game to Pacers – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Bulls’ struggles could make ideal Raptors trade target available

Bulls’ struggles could make ideal Raptors trade target available

The Toronto Raptors have made a solid start to the season despite having to deal with a series of injury problems since the beginning. Nick Nurse’s side finds themselves with a 13-2 record and sitting at 7th in the Eastern Conference. The same thing cannot be said about the Chicago Bulls’ start to the campaign, […]
Bulls’ struggles could make ideal Raptors trade target available – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Sourav Mahanty / Raptors HQ

Raptors must steal James Wiseman from Warriors after G League move

Raptors must steal James Wiseman from Warriors after G League move

It has been an excellent start to the season for the Toronto Raptors when you consider the fact that they have had to deal with one injury after another just 17 games in. Nick Nurse’s side has a 9-8 record, and they should be close to contending in the Eastern Conference when healthy. Would a risky […]
Raptors must steal James Wiseman from Warriors after G League move – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Sourav Mahanty / Raptors HQ

Raptors: O.G. Anunoby makes history with insane defensive skills

Raptors: O.G. Anunoby makes history with insane defensive skills

The Toronto Raptors have had a solid season start and have a 5-4 record after Friday night. The base of this early season success has been built on a rock-solid defense. The biggest reason behind the Raptors being so solid on that end of the court has been the play of O.G. Anunoby. The British […]
Raptors: O.G. Anunoby makes history with insane defensive skills – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Sourav Mahanty / Raptors HQ

Buy or Sell 3 Toronto Raptors trends amid 3-3 start in 2022

Buy or Sell 3 Toronto Raptors trends amid 3-3 start in 2022

Pascal Siakam and the Toronto Raptors are 3-3 to start the 2022-23 season, which isn’t bad by any means, given the demanding schedule the Raptors have had to plow through. The Cavaliers, 76ers, and Heat have all fallen to a Raptors team that still has some significant issues. Toronto was taken apart by Philadelphia in a […]
Buy or Sell 3 Toronto Raptors trends amid 3-3 start in 2022 – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Projecting the ideal Toronto Raptors rotation for 2022-23 season

Projecting the ideal Toronto Raptors rotation for 2022-23 season

The Toronto Raptors are finally ready to start competing for the 2022-23 championship, as their 3-2 preseason has come to a close. Last year, Toronto saw their run of good regular season fortune get squashed by the 76ers, who were able to take advantage of poor depth. This season promises to be different. While Otto […]
Projecting the ideal Toronto Raptors rotation for 2022-23 season – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Mitch White to start for Blue Jays on Friday, Alek Manoah lined up for Game 162

Mitch White will get the start for the Blue Jays on Friday in Tampa, a move that the team’s coaching staff has made in order to give Alek Manoah some extra rest and to line him up for the final day of the season.

Manager John Schneider said that the team’s priority is finishing as the top wild-card team so that they can host the first round of the playoffs. If that comes down to the final day of the season, Manoah will start. If not, he’ll get more extra rest before the Blue Jays head into the playoffs.
Here’s how the pitching rotation will look the rest of the way, based on the Blue Jays’ plans…
Friday, Sept. 23 vs. Rays: Mitch White
Saturday, Sept. 24 vs. Rays: Alek Manoah
Sunday, Sept. 25 vs. Rays: Ross Stripling
Monday, Sept. 26 vs. Yankees: Kevin Gausman
Tuesday, Sept. 27 vs. Yankees: Jose Berrios
Wednesday, Sept. 28 vs. Yankees: Mitch White/Bullpen Day
Thursday, Sept. 29 – OFF
Friday, Sept. 30 vs. Red Sox: Alek Manoah
Saturday, Oct. 1 vs. Red Sox: Ross Stripling
Sunday, Oct. 2 vs. Red Sox: Kevin Gausman
Monday, Oct. 3 vs. Orioles: Jose Berrios
Tuesday, Oct. 4 vs. Orioles: Mitch White/Bullpen Day
Wednesday, Oct. 5 vs. Orioles: Alek Manoah
Thursday, Oct. 6 – OFF
Friday, Oct. 7 – Wild Card Game 1
Saturday, Oct. 8 – Wild Card Game 2
Sunday, Oct. 9 – Wild Card Game 3
The ideal situation here, of course, is that the Blue Jays have the top wild-card spot locked up before the end of the season and those games against Baltimore in October don’t matter. As it stands right now, the Blue Jays are one game up on Tampa Bay and they play the Rays three more times while t …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

PK Subban might find his best price as an in season free agent option

Let me start by saying this isn’t making a case for Subban coming to the Leafs. In fact other than this initial preamble I’m not sure there will be a ton a Leafs content in this article, we’ll have to see where this journey takes us.
From a Leafs perspective, Toronto is already set with seven NHL defensemen once Rasmus Sandin is signed, and Jordie Benn and Victor Mete seem to be very capable depth options to put on the Marlies. Making room for Subban would likely mean not only moving Justin Holl, but one other defenseman to have a spot for PK in the lineup. I’m not sure the Leafs wanted to do that.
Throw in the fact that Mark Giordano a two year $800k AAV deal that seems to set a ballpark for what the Leafs are willing to spend on veteran defense wanting to come back to play in their hometown. While I’m sure most people would easily put 2021-22 Giordano over Subban, it’s still a very reasonable thing for Subban to not be ready to take a sub $1M deal. He still has talents that can be marketed well above that range and he is likely trying to get his price.
That’s …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

2022 TLN Prospect Rankings: #12 Semyon Der-Arguchintsev

This past season was the start of something new between the Maple Leafs and Semyon Der-Arguchintsev.
Although the 21-year-old had one short stint of pro while on loan in the KHL, this would be his true taste of North American professional hockey. And it was a fascinating year to say the least.
It didn’t feel like there was much riding on this season for Der-Arguchintsev, but there actually was. This was his first full season in the AHL — in a prominent role albeit. It was SDA’s time to shine and to show what he could have for the organization in the future.
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
C | Toronto (AHL) | Age: 21 | 5-foot-10 | 165 lbs | Shoots: RAcquired: 2018 Draft, 76th Overall | 2021 Ranking: #16
Entering the 2021-22 season, the 21-year-old needed to add a few things to his toolbox to fit in well with the Toronto Marlies — gaining more weight and muscle was the biggest. Coming out of the Traverse City prospect tournament, it was evidently clear that if Der-Arguchintsev wanted success, he’d need to grow.
Over the course of the season, that happened. In his first 17 games, the 21-year-old had 13 points — four being goals and the rest coming as assists. This was the fiery start that Der-Arguchintsev needed, yet unfortunately after this huge …

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation