Scottie Barnes fits the Toronto Raptors and their developmental culture

Scottie Barnes fits the Toronto Raptors and their developmental culture

Toronto Raptors fans and sports pundits were generally gobsmacked by the team’s pick of Florida State’s Scottie Barnes with the No. 4 Pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Gonzaga point guard Jalen Suggs had been the betting favorite for weeks, but the Raptors decided to shockingly go in a different direction. Suggs is strong both […]
Scottie Barnes fits the Toronto Raptors and their developmental culture – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Cece Scott / Raptors HQ

Raptors: What Scottie Barnes means for the offseason and beyond

Raptors: What Scottie Barnes means for the offseason and beyond

We were hearing the Scottie Barnes rumors for weeks now with a somewhat healthy degree of skepticism, but the Toronto Raptors actually pulled the trigger on the Florida State product over Jalen Suggs with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The mock boards all agreed that Suggs was the pick at 4, […]
Raptors: What Scottie Barnes means for the offseason and beyond – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Avishai Sol / Raptors HQ

Toronto Raptors: 3 things No. 4 overall pick Scottie Barnes brings

Toronto Raptors: 3 things No. 4 overall pick Scottie Barnes brings

The Toronto Raptors were expected to take Gonzaga point guard Jalen Suggs with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, they once again subverted expectations when they ended up taking Florida State stud Scottie Barnes, intrigued by his versatility, defense, and potential on both ends. Barnes averaged 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and […]
Toronto Raptors: 3 things No. 4 overall pick Scottie Barnes brings – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

Jack Kopacka joins the Greyhounds South by signing an AHL deal with the Marlies

We’re probably beating a dead horse at this point, as you’ve all noticed that Kyle Dubas and Sheldon Keefe are fond of bringing in former Soo Greyhounds. That’s cool, and there’s nothing wrong with that. They know these players, got a lot out of these players, and relying on first hand experience rather than scouting sounds like a win to me. So that’s why it’s funny but also good to see another Greyhound come into the organization today…

 News | We’ve signed forward Jack Kopacka to a one-year AHL contract.#ForeverStartsHere
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) July 29, 2021

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Leafs add defensive depth with Alex Biega and Carl Dahlström

If you were expecting big signings from the Leafs, today isn’t your day. It’s not like replacing Zach Hyman or upgrading at the third line center position is something they should be doing, right?
Anyways, enough of my pissing and moaning, and onto the signings…

Leafs have signed Alex Biega and Carl Dahlstrom on defence.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) July 28, 2021

Both players check out well in the Rel Defense category pic.twitter.com/NsMGyK8AmE
— RkB Stats (@reversekneebar) July 28, 2021

So yeah, that’s a whole lot of depth defense and likely Marlies support. If we’re looking at who they are reasonably replacing it’s Martin Marincin and Ben Hutton, and given that the Leafs have pretty much a fully stocked blueline at the NHL level, Biega and Dahlström will likely be Marlies bound for most of the year.
As of right now we don’t have the contract details, but if there are seven digits on either players AAV, I’m gonna throw up.
Dahlström 
Last season Dahlström played 17 games in the AHL and the season before he was a part time NHLer with the Jets. He’s 26 and 6’4, but the 6’4 that doesn’t hit, …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

What the 2019 Toronto Raptors and 2021 Bucks had in common

What the 2019 Toronto Raptors and 2021 Bucks had in common

While the Toronto Raptors were on the couch at home, licking their wounds after a very unlucky 2020-21 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks won the 2021 NBA championship by defeating the Phoenix Suns 4-2 after losing the first two games. Raptors fans were at one point hoping and praying that Masai Ujiri’s connection […]
What the 2019 Toronto Raptors and 2021 Bucks had in common – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Alaa Alarashi / Raptors HQ

Instant Analysis of the Toronto Maple Leafs 2021-22 Schedule

The NHL regular season schedules were released tonight, so let’s crack into it and see what the next 9 months have in store for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As previously announced, the schedule that has been currently made public has both an All-Star Week break and a break for the 2022 Winter Olympics, if the IOC permits NHL players to attend. The league says talks on that matter are ongoing and that an alternate schedule has been prepared if the NHL does not go to the Olympics.
The league returns to an 82-game schedule (oh joy) and will revert to the old division and conference format, with the addition of Seattle of course. The Leafs will return to a stacked Atlantic Division that features the repeating Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and their unlikely Finals opponent, the Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs will also deal with familiar rivals in Boston, Florida and Ottawa teams that are slowly on the rise, and also Detroit and Buffalo…. who are Detroit and Buffalo.
And with the return to a normal schedule comes a (thankfully abbreviated) preseason that will see the Leafs play six games between September 25 and October 9. Exact dates and opponents are listed below.

…

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Author: Dylan Murphy / The Leafs Nation

McCann and Hyman are Leafs heading West

While we were all discussing our displeasure with the Seattle Kraken taking Jared McCann in the NHL Expansion Draft, there was more news for the Leafs. And no, it’s not good news.
According to Elliotte Friedman, who was on Sportsnet Central after Seattle’s draft, Zach Hyman is likely going to be traded to the Edmonton Oilers so he can sign an eight-year deal. He didn’t say when it would come, but Friedman said it could be on Friday.
I discuss that, and why it’s okay to lose McCann in the Expansion Draft. I hope you enjoy the video.

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

Toronto Raptors: 3 advantages Jalen Suggs has over Jalen Green

Toronto Raptors: 3 advantages Jalen Suggs has over Jalen Green

The Toronto Raptors were gifted the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and the expectation according to the mock draft experts seems to be that the Raptors will choose Gonzaga point guard Jalen Suggs, though USC center Evan Mobley and G League guard Jalen Green remain viable options. Considering the team’s need at […]
Toronto Raptors: 3 advantages Jalen Suggs has over Jalen Green – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

DeMar DeRozan’s departure: How he impacts the Toronto Raptors today

DeMar DeRozan’s departure: How he impacts the Toronto Raptors today

DeMar DeRozan and the Toronto Raptors were once a struggling team who had to consistently watch tremendous regular seasons come to unceremonious ends in the postseason for years on end. On July 18th, 2018, Masai Ujiri pulled the trigger and made the first step in what he believed would result in a championship. To the […]
DeMar DeRozan’s departure: How he impacts the Toronto Raptors today – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Melissa Gil / Raptors HQ