Mock MLB Draft Roundup: The Toronto Blue Jays at No. 20 overall

This season, the MLB Draft is slated to begin Sunday, July 9th in Seattle, Washington, the same weekend as the All-Star festivities that are slated to go down at T-Mobile Park, running through the early part of the week and ending with the game taking place on Tuesday. The Blue Jays own the 20th pick in the draft this year and won’t select again until the third round at 89th overall, as the club lost their second-round pick as compensation for signing right-hander Chris Bassitt this past offseason, who declined the Mets qualifying offer early into free agency.

From a historical perspective, the only time in franchise history that the Jays had the 20th pick was back in 2009 and the club would go on to select right-hander Chad Jenkins out of Kennesaw State University. Jenkins would end up playing 46 games for the Blue Jays between 2012 to 2015 and amassed a 3.31 ERA with a 4.6 K/9 before being released by the team midway through the 2016 season. In the same draft class, Stephen Strasburg was selected first overall by the Washington Nationals while the Los Angeles Angels selected Mike Trout at 25th overall, with numerous other stars being drafted in the later rounds such as Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, Paul Goldschmidt, and current Blue Jays 1B/DH Brandon Belt.
As we look ahead to the 2023 MLB Draft, there are numerous sites and analysts that are sta …

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Author: Tyson Shushkewich / Blue Jays Nation

Murray leaves the game and Larkin nets a hat trick in Leafs’ 5-2 loss: Game Highlights

Detroit took care of Toronto 5-2 on Sunday night, and the game wasn’t the only thing the Leafs lost yesterday. Matt Murray left the game in the first period after a collision with Lucas Raymond. Ilya Samsonov played well in relief but it wasn’t enough. Below are the highlights from the game.
Auston Matthews had the first prime scoring chance of the game. His wrist shot from the slot was denied by Alex Nedeljkovic:

first shot from Matthews is gloved down pic.twitter.com/YBmATnOObk
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 2, 2023

Seconds later, Olli Maatta got the Red Wings on the board. Sam Lafferty fumbled the Connor Timmins pass at the blue line and Maatta was off to the races. 1-0 Wings:

Olli Maata goes in all alone on Matt Murray and makes it 1-0 for the Red Wings just 90 seconds in! pic.twitter.com/yDddwnX4rE
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 2, 2023

The Leafs knotted it up with a power play marker as Adam Erne sat for cross checking. Calle Jarnkrok stays hot:

19 FOR 19! pic.twitter.com/FKJBsTs3XH
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 2, 2023

Jonatan Berggren broke the deadlock with a beautiful individual effort. The Leafs were caught puck-watching in the neutral zone and Berggren made them pay:

Jonatan BerggHIM. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/SZRcWLwoIr
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 2, 2023

Late in the first Raymond lost an edge and took out Murray. The Leafs’ goaltender was removed from the game due to concussion protocol. He did not return. Samsonov played the rest of the game:

Lucas Raymond collides with Matt Murray
nasty fall pic.twitter.com/VsLay5lyqe
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 2, 2023

Dylan Larkin added an insurance tally for Detroit before the period ended. John Tavares coughed up the puck on the breakout and Larkin ripped a shot past Samsonov. 3-1 Wings:

That’s a new career season high for Dylan Larkin with 74 points! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/hTgRQTye2k
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 3, 2023

Samsonov kept the Leafs in it in the second period. He made this glove save on Moritz Seider look easy:

Liljegr …

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Author: Scott Ony / The Leafs Nation

Woll stands tall, Leafs beat Preds 3-2: Game Highlights

Joseph Woll earned his third win of the season on Sunday afternoon in Nashville. He stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faces. John Tavares scored twice and Auston Matthews had two assists. Below are the highlights from the game.
Woll was tested early but made two nice saves to keep the games scoreless…

Woll stops the deflection and the rebound chance from Barrie pic.twitter.com/6tMSZV5hJX
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 26, 2023

The Leafs rookie goaltender continued his stellar play with a beauty glove save…

Woll flashes leather pic.twitter.com/XpEgbMWQMu
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 26, 2023

John Tavares scored his 150th goal as a Leaf to get Toronto on the board. The captain finished a pretty passing play to make it 1-0…

PERFECT POWER PLAY PASSING 🤌 pic.twitter.com/BhSVNBnvQW
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 26, 2023

 
The Leafs doubled their lead just over a minute into the middle period. Alex Kerfoot scored with a wrist shot off the rush.  His second goal in the last three games…

LET IT FLY FOOTER 🎯 pic.twitter.com/uZXxNiz8j2
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 26, 2023

Later in the second Justin Holl crushed Rasmus Asplund with a clean hit in the neutral zone…

Justin Holl demolishes Rasmus Asplund pic.twitter.com/yGXe14FarY
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 26, 2023

Kevin Lankinen kept the Predators in the game by robbing Calle Jarnkrok with the glove…

what a sequence for the top line pic.twitter.com/QRya9BwWWy
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 26, 2023

A couple minutes into the third Woll made another fantastic save. He stretched out the pad on the 2-on-1 and made the stop…

W🚫LLER! 🧱 pic.twitter.com/x7upcPcNnH
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 27, 2023

Just over halfway through the final period. The Predators finally found the back of the net. As Tavares sat for interference, Codly Glass tipped the the Tyson Barrie point shot past Woll. 2-1…

GLASSER MAKES IT A ONE-GOAL GAME pic.twitter.com/SZYqdhFE1c
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) March 27, 2023

With less than five minutes remaining. The Leafs scored their second powerplay goal of the game. It was Tavares again. He cleaned up a Morgan Reilly rebound for a much needed insurance marker…

JOHNNY ON THE SPOT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/4tzEpDAll8
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 27, 2023

Nashville got back within one with their goalie pulled. Barrie’s point shot deflected off Holl and past Woll to make it 3-2. That was as close as they’d come. 3-2 Leafs final score.

Tyson Barrie brings the Preds back within one 👀 pic.twitter.com/ODDt24io2h
— Sportsnet (@Sportsn …

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Author: Scott Ony / The Leafs Nation

Goalie splits with Murray back, Making roster space, hooray for defense: Leaflets

Goalie splits with Murray back, Making roster space, hooray for defense: Leaflets

Thanks to a Sunday battle with a stomach bug I’ve decided to tackle this week’s Leaflets a day late. I’m sure you didn’t notice, but generally my collection of half thoughts goes up Monday morning instead of Tuesday. If there is one reader out there going “WHERE ARE MY LEAFLETS?” this update is for you.
That’s enough preamble, let’s get to the half thoughts.
Don’t overwork Murray
If there is a time and place to overwork Matt Murray history has taught us that it is in the playoffs. And history has also taught us that keeping him healthy enough to get to the playoffs will be a challenge too, so despite his price tag and despite the fact that he in theory is the better goaltending option compared to Erik Kallgren, I’d hope the Leafs are cautious about easing him into their lineup.
We already know that Murray will be the starter for the Leafs tonight, and while Samsonov was at practice on Monday, his return hasn’t been announced either. That possibly means seeing more of Erik Kallgren than we …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation