Leafs special teams are a strength but also a potential area for improvement

Leafs special teams are a strength but also a potential area for improvement

One of the predictors that teams often use to size themselves up against the competition around the league is special teams performance. Teams might only spend around 10 minutes of a game on special teams, but it is an important section of time. The Leafs average 3.37 goals per game and 0.79 of that are powerplay goals (23%). Similarly, 23% of the Leafs goals against come when they are shorthanded. It’s in that spirit that it seems like it’s worth diving into the team numbers around special teams, just a little and seeing how Toronto measures up to their most immediate competition.

Leafs
Bruins
Lightning
PP%
25% (7)
25.1% (5)
26.4% (3)
PP% Net
22.6% (7)
22.9% (6)
21% (10)
PK%
79.4% (16)
85.8% (1)
80.5% (13)
PK% Net
83.1% (13)
88.1% (1)
81.8% (17)
Combined%
104.4% (7)
110.9% (1)
106.9% (5)
Combined Net%
105.7% (8)
111% (1)
102.8% (12)
Net Goal Dif
10 (6)
19 (1)
6 (14)
When looking at the Leafs immediate competition it’s clear that the top of the Atlantic Division thrives on special teams. The Bruins in particular are dominant, only conceding the advantage to the Lightning on raw powerplay percentage. The second that short handed goals against are factored into the Lightning’s situation, they become the worst of the trio, with only 21% of their powerplays being measured as truly successful.
The Lightning again struggle in similar fashion against on the PK, having a stronger penalty kill than the Leafs do, but being less capable of coming up with short handed goals for, something that Toronto has continued to do successfully with their aggressive penalty kill. It closes the gap nicely and from a Leafs perspective having the Lightning frequently give up shorthanded goals …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Pascal Siakam not being named All-Star in career year is a disgrace

Pascal Siakam not being named All-Star in career year is a disgrace

The Toronto Raptors are one of the most disappointing teams in the league, as Nick Nurse’s much-maligned squad went from a 48-win feel-good story to a lottery team inundated with trade rumors. However, one of the positives to take away from this season is Pascal Siakam becoming an undeniable elite player in the league. Siakam […]
Pascal Siakam not being named All-Star in career year is a disgrace – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Toronto Blue Jays Arbitration Tracker (11 of 12 arb-eligible players have reached deals, only Bo Bichette remains)

Friday is the deadline for Major League teams and arbitration-eligible players to exchange their desired salary figures for the 2023 season, so we’re going to see a handful of deals reached in the next little while.

According to Ben Nicholson-Smith, the Blue Jays have come to terms with eleven players thus far…

Per source, #BlueJays & Danny Jansen avoided arb with a $3.5 million deal for 2023
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 13, 2023

Per source, #BlueJays & Trevor Richards avoid arb with one-year, $1.5 million deal
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 13, 2023

#BlueJays, Tim Mayza avoid arb with $2.1 million deal for 2023 per source
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 13, 2023

#BlueJays, Trent Thornton avoid arb per source
$1 million
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 13, 2023

#BlueJays, Santiago Espinal avoid arb per source
$2.1 million for 2023
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 13, 2023

#BlueJays avoid arb with Jordan Romano per source
$4.5375 million
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 13, 2023

As @JonHeyman said, #BlueJays avoided arb with Daulton Varsho ($3.05 million)
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 13, 2023

#BlueJays avoid arb with Cavan Biggio per source
$2.8 million
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 13, 2023

#BlueJays, Adam Cimber avoid arb per sources
$3.15 million
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 13, 2023

Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., agree at $14.5m to avoid arbitration, per source.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) January 14, 2023

Below are the salaries that MLB Trade Rumours projected each arb-eligible Blue Jay would earn for the 2023 season and beside that is the deal they’ve reached…
Vladimir Guerrero Jr: $14.8 million – Reached a $14.5 million deal 
Bo Bichette: $6.1 million
Jordan Romano: $4.4 million – Reached a $4.5375 million deal
Danny Jansen: $3.7 million – Reached a $3.5 million deal 
Adam Cimber: $3.2 million – Reached a $3.15 million deal 
Daulton Varsho: $2.8 million – Reached a $3.05 million deal
Cavan Biggio: $2.6 million – Reached a $2.8 million deal 
Santiago Espinal: $2.1 million – Reached a $2.1 million deal 
Tim Mayza: $1.9 million – Reached a $2.1 million deal 
Trevor Richards: $1.5 million – Reached a $1.5 million deal
Erik Swanson: $1.4 million – Reached a $1.25 million deal 
Trent Thornton: $1.1 million – Reached a $1 million deal
As it stands on Saturday morning, the only player left without a deal is Bo Bichette, so the Blue Jays and their start shortstop might be headed to arbitration. According to Mark Feinsand, the Blue Jays submitted a $5 million salary figure, while Bichette’s camp has asked for $7.5 million. MLBTR, as noted above, projected $6.1 million.
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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

Toronto Maple Leafs one of just two NHL teams with zero prospects at 2023 World Juniors

Toronto Maple Leafs one of just two NHL teams with zero prospects at 2023 World Juniors

Being one of the National Hockey League’s top teams comes at a cost.

Boxing Day typically marks the start of the World Juniors, one of the hockey world’s most exciting events, and this year is no different. The 2023 World Junior Championship begins today with four games: Finland/Switzerland, Sweden/Austria, Latvia/USA, and Czechia/Canada.
But, for the first time since 1982, the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t have a single prospect taking part in this year’s World Juniors. A four-decade streak of Maple Leafs representation will come to an end when the first puck drops on Monday.
In a sense, it’s understandable. With a 21–7–6 record through the first three months of the season, the Leafs are a Stanley Cup contender with the desire to win now. They’ve made just eight picks over the last two drafts.
But the cupboards aren’t completely bare. Matthew Knies is just barely too old to play for Team USA this year, while Ty Voit was a curious omission on the part of USA Hockey considering his fantastic statline with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. The Leafs selected both Knies and Voit in 2021.
Meanwhile, 2022 fifth-round pick Nikita Grebenkin would’ve been a shoo …

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Author: Mike Gould / The Leafs Nation

The Blue Jays are reportedly among the teams interested in RHP Kodai Senga

The Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams who have expressed interest in a free-agent pitcher. In other news, water is wet.

Jon Morosi appeared on MLB Network on Monday and reported that there are a number of different teams who are scouting Kodai Senga “very intensely.” The list of teams that Morosi mentioned are the Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers, the Texas Rangers, and the Seattle Mariners.

At least five teams are in on Japanese pitching sensation Kodai Senga @jonmorosi has the latest on the right-hander’s free agency market and where he could fit in a major league rotation. #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/C2vYXx5akI
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 14, 2022

Senga is the top Japanese free agent on the market this winter, and perhaps the most hyped pitcher to come out of Japan since Shohei Ohtani came overseas back in 2017. He generated a lot of hype for himself with a strong performance for Japan at the World Baseball Classic in 2017 but hasn’t been made available to Major League clubs because his NPB team, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, are philosophically opposed to using the posting system.
In 2022, Senga posted a 1.94 ERA over the course of 22 appearances. He struck out 9.8 batters per nine innings and walked 3.1 per nine. Senga relies on a four-pitch mix, with a fastball that averages 96 miles per hour but has apparently touched as high as 102. He also has an off-speed weapon that’s referred to as a “ghost fork.”

Kodai Senga has been up to 102 mph, throws a ghost forkball, slider, curve & cutter. 1.89 ERA in 148 innings this year.
Senga’s agent noted Kodai would like to play in a big market on a win now team and is versed in/wants to learn more about analytics.
pic.twitter.com/EUd4RmxucB
— Michael Mayer (@mikemayer22) November 14, 2022

An interesting thing about Senga is that he isn’t a traditional Japanese free agent whom Maj …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

3 huge problems Raptors must fix amid shaky start to 2022-23

3 huge problems Raptors must fix amid shaky start to 2022-23

The Toronto Raptors were one of the most surprising teams in the league last year, thanks to a 48-win season that established the fraudulent nature of their Tampa performance. Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and O.G. Anunoby entered this season with tons of promise, but their team hasn’t been as dominant as some may have expected. […]
3 huge problems Raptors must fix amid shaky start to 2022-23 – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Try not to tear up as Yuta Watanabe says goodbye to Raptors

Try not to tear up as Yuta Watanabe says goodbye to Raptors

The nature of the NBA means that teams like the Toronto Raptors often have to say goodbye to fan favorites to get cheaper alternatives. Yuta Watanabe made himself a marquee attraction when he was on the floor, but Toronto thought it was time to say goodbye. With youngsters like Christian Koloko arriving via the NBA […]
Try not to tear up as Yuta Watanabe says goodbye to Raptors – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

These Raptors need to increase their scoring output in 2022-23

These Raptors need to increase their scoring output in 2022-23

The Toronto Raptors have one of the finest defensive teams in the Eastern Conference at their disposal, but they won’t be a true contender for any sort of championship until they find a way to become a more high-octane offensive team. This squad was ranked 20th in points per game and 27th in pace last […]
These Raptors need to increase their scoring output in 2022-23 – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

MLB Draft Day 2, live article – Blue Jays selections, analysis, and more!

Hey y’all, welcome to the second day of the draft, where teams will be selecting round 3 through round 10.

If you missed the articles last night, you can click on these four links to learn about each of the picks:
The Toronto Blue Jays select Brandon Barriera with the 23rd overall pick
The Toronto Blue Jays select Josh Kasevich with the 60th overall pick
The Toronto Blue Jays select Tucker Toman with the 77th overall pick
The Toronto Blue Jays select Cade Doughty with the 78th overall pick
The Jays first pick of the day comes with the 98th overall, 18 picks into the day. After that, they will pick every 30 picks.
Some names still on the board include Trey Dombroski, Ben Joyce, Nazier Mule, Cameron Smith and quite a few others.
It’s likely that they Jays won’t pick big names, as they’ll have to under slot quite a few players due to Tucker Toman picked 77th overall.
If I had top give a grade for their Day 1 drafting, it would have to be at the very least and A. The lowest ranked prospect they drafted yesterday according to MLB Pipeline was the 67th ranked prospect, so definitely expect a lot of “small” named players (who the Jays do well with.
 
 
 
 
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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

Never forget how Kevin Durant has routinely praised the Raptors

Never forget how Kevin Durant has routinely praised the Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are one of a handful of teams that are trying to pursue Kevin Durant in trade talks. Given Toronto’s upward trajectory and Durant’s frustration with the Brooklyn Nets, the two sides coming together on an agreement seem like something with a nonzero chance of happening. From a basketball point of view, the […]
Never forget how Kevin Durant has routinely praised the Raptors – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ