Ontario Sports News

Blue Jays’ Green dealing with shoulder soreness, wasn’t available vs. Yankees

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 16:58

The Toronto Blue Jays had a two-run lead going into the ninth inning on Wednesday but there was some surprise when Erik Swanson came out of the bullpen.

Making his first appearance of the season against the fifth, sixth and seventh hitters in the New York Yankees lineup, Swanson didn’t have the best return, giving up a home run to Giancarlo Stanton. Swanson was pulled after allowing three runs on three hits and a walk.

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Next up was Tim Mayza, who couldn’t limit the damage as the Yankees would add to their lead to complete a four-run ninth inning.

Many wondered why the Blue Jays had Swanson making his first appearance of the season in a high-leverage situation and it appears the team did not have many options available.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters after the game that Chad Green was not able to pitch in the series finale because of shoulder soreness.

Schneider hopes the issue is just a short-term one for Green. He also said that Jordan Romano and Yimi Garcia were not available to pitch.

Green has appeared in seven games this season, recording a 2.35 ERA, two saves, seven strikeouts and two walks in 7.2 innings.

Both Garcia and Romano pitched in Tuesday’s 5-4 win over the Yankees.

Swanson was activated from the injured list Tuesday after right forearm inflammation kept out to start the season. Swanson made three rehab appearances before rejoining the bullpen.

Blue Jays allow four runs in ninth inning as Yankees spoil Toronto’s sweep

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 16:42

TORONTO – This was a game the Toronto Blue Jays should have won.

Granted, the Yankees are a formidable team, and sweeps are hard at this level. But if your ace rebounds, your left fielder hits two home runs and you take a lead into the ninth inning, that’s a game you should win.

Instead, a late Yankees rally erased a Blue Jays lead and prevented what would have been the first Toronto sweep of the season. On a day three of the Blue Jays’ top relievers were unavailable, Genesis Cabrera, Erik Swanson and Tim Mayza each gave up big hits on the way to a 6-4 Yankees win.

“Today, it’s a sour taste,” manager John Schneider said. “You have a sweep (available) there against a really good team and we didn’t get it done.”

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Yimi Garcia had worked the first two games of the series, making him unavailable, and the Blue Jays are being careful with closer Jordan Romano, who made his season debut Tuesday night. Plus, Schneider revealed after the game that Chad Green was unavailable because of shoulder soreness he felt after throwing 17 pitches Monday .

With those three relievers unavailable, the Blue Jays had Cabrera on the mound in the eighth inning, when he gave up a solo home run to Juan Soto. Then in the ninth, with the Blue Jays still up two, Swanson made his season debut and allowed a loud home run to Giancarlo Stanton before allowing hits to Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo.

It was at that point that the Blue Jays turned to Mayza, who allowed a pinch-hit single to Jose Trevino to tie the game then a two-run single by Aaron Judge to give New York the lead. At no point did Romano, Garcia or Green warm up, but the Blue Jays expect all three to be available Friday.

As a result, the Blue Jays wasted a strong effort from starter Kevin Gausman and a two-home run game from Daulton Varsho.

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The first of the homers came against longtime Blue Jay Marcus Stroman but the second was more notable, as it came against Caleb Ferguson, a left-handed pitcher – a first for the left-handed hitting Varsho in a Blue Jays uniform.

“He’s worked really hard to get where he is,” Schneider said. “He’s getting good swings off … he’s got a lot of potential, and we’re seeing that right now. He hits the ball really hard. His at-bats have been great and we’re excited for him.”

Ferguson left a first-pitch fastball up, and Varsho sent it 392 feet.

“There’s a lot of things that go into that pitch selection,” Varsho said. “But being able to trust what you’re doing at the plate and being able to execute is the biggest part.”

This version of Varsho looks like an all-star calibre player, and the production comes at an opportune time. As a team, the Blue Jays struggled to find their power stroke, with zero homers in the first two games against New York on just 12 total hits. But afterwards, the Blue Jays pointed to their ability to grind out tough at-bats as a positive from their first homestand of the year.

“If we can wear pitchers out and get to that bullpen early in the series, that’s a really big key for every team that plays well,” Varsho said.

Crediting George Springer in particular, Gausman echoed Varsho’s sentiment.

“Yesterday was the best I’ve seen our offence from one through nine since I’ve been here. I mean, it was incredible the amount of pitches those guys saw,” Gausman said. “That was great to see.”

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Going into the game, the matchup of Stroman and Gausman was an intriguing one, and it didn’t disappoint on the day Gausman reached 10 years of major-league service time.

After faltering against the Rockies in his previous start, Gausman rebounded with five innings of one-run ball Wednesday. His velocity was up, with an average fastball of 94.8 m.p.h. and a max velocity of 97.9 m.p.h. as well as harder splitters and sliders.

An extended first inning ate into his pitch count, but the only real damage he allowed Wednesday was a Soto RBI double. All told, the right-hander allowed four hits and three walks while striking out six — a significant step forward.

Plus, consider this when assessing Gausman’s outing: not only do the Yankees have MVP-calibre hitters like Soto and Judge, they’re also among the best in MLB at game planning. Put simply, not all teams are good at helping their pitchers keep hitters off-balance, or helping their hitters anticipate what’s likely coming. The Yankees are elite at it.

That was certainly the case Wednesday, when New York’s hitters overmatched Blue Jays pitchers when it counted most. The Blue Jays did conclude their first homestand of the season with three series wins and a 6-3 record in Toronto, but they missed a chance for more against one of their biggest rivals.

“Still a really good homestand,” Schneider said. “I thought we played extremely well and it was nice to be home in front of our fans. I wish it had gone a little bit differently today, but the guys are battling.”

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Schneider ejected after arguing strike call on Guerrero Jr.

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 16:31

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Masai Ujiri putting trust in Scottie Barnes to fuel Raptors’ turnaround

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 16:15

TORONTO — It still stings.

In what should have been his moment of ultimate personal and professional triumph, team president Masai Ujiri couldn’t properly enjoy it. He couldn’t allow his mind to swim in the idea that he’d helped lead the Toronto Raptors to a place that, for decades, seemed unimaginable: the top of the NBA; champions.

Instead, Ujiri was forcibly shoved by a police officer working security as the Toronto Raptors president was trying to reach for his credentials on his way to the floor at Oracle Arena to celebrate with his team after Toronto’s historic Game 6 win over the Golden State Warriors. He was eventually pulled into the celebration by then-Raptor Kyle Lowry. A baseless lawsuit followed, claiming damages against Ujiri. It was eventually dropped when video evidence debunked the officer’s version of events.

But it took 18 months to resolve, and between that event and then Raptors star Kawhi Leonard leaving for the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency less than a month after winning finals MVP, the pandemic which the Raptors believe short-circuited their title defense, Ujiri’s post-championship glow was tarnished.

“I actually feel something was taken away from me when we won the last championship,” Ujiri said at his end-of-season media conference on Wednesday. “And my goal is to win another one here. That’s the focus,100 per cent.”

But how? And when?

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A goal is just a dream without a plan, and as Ujiri was sorting through the detritus of Toronto’s 25-57 season, the firm answers as to when — inevitably — are hard to come by. The reality is that so many things have to go right to build a championship-level NBA team that it’s almost pointless making predictions or giving timelines, and so Ujiri didn’t bother.

“Sometimes, rebuilds can take three to six years,” he said. “Sometimes, teams act before. I think we’re going to see how this process goes and use our instincts with it, but patience is going to be a big thing with this team.”

And as for how? The details are TBD.

Does he hope the Raptors hold on to their draft pick this season, given their 2-19 nosedive to finish the year gives them a 45.8 per cent chance of keeping it, but still leaving a 54.2 per cent chance of having it convey to the San Antonio Spurs to complete last season’s Jakob Poeltl trade?

Given that the 2025 draft is widely perceived as being exceptionally deep, would he prefer that the Raptors fall out of the top six in the draft lottery on May 12 and the pick conveys to San Antonio, assuring the Raptors keep their own pick in 2025 and 2026 (after which the pick would become two second-round picks if it hadn’t conveyed)?

We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, was the message. There are no wrong answers.

“Any way it goes, we will be grateful, we’ll be happy,” Ujiri said. “If we’re not in the top six [this year], we have our pick next year; if we are in the top six, you go out and find the best guy or find whatever transaction there is to make the best use out of it.

“I don’t go into any situation in the NBA draft or free agency thinking negative anything about it,” he said. “You do the best, try to win it, whether it’s a pick, whether it’s a transaction, anything you do, you are trying to do the best. That’s what we do here in Toronto to get back on track.”

There were questions from all corners.

His view on first year head coach Darko Rajakovic? “We’ve dealt him a tough hand. And that’s on us … but in terms of everything else outside of results, I think Darko did an incredible job.”

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His thoughts on new MLSE chief executive officer Keith Pelley? “I got to know him a little bit, I think [it was] so much needed with this organization, that lift, that energy that he brings to us. … We’re super excited about Keith.

“[But] … it does not change anything on how decisions we make or how we go about making those decisions,” Ujiri said. “I’m still Masai, nothing is going to f—— change that, I guarantee you that.”

After calling out last year’s Raptors for being selfish, how does he feel about the culture in place now?

“Maybe I was a little bit unfair with the other guys,” Ujiri allowed. “… I was trying to be very aggressive with our team in trying to get us back to who we are, playing the right way, playing for each other, and winning, which I think we’ve proven we can do in this organization. So, I don’t think as people, as persons, our culture ever went anywhere, but I think we got away a little bit from maybe playing how all of us would want to play or want to see the game. I think now Darko has instilled a certain way and we’re going to move with that.”

But if there was one theme that Ujiri kept returning to and which he has very much pinned to the Raptors’ hopes to, it’s that he believes Scottie Barnes — an All-Star in his third season — is the player and the person who can lead the Raptors back where they want to be.

Ujiri was asked questions about the third-year star, but he also brought up Barnes — unprompted — five times when trying to explain how and why he believes a team that has finished out of the playoffs in three of the past four years and doesn’t control its own draft pick this year can return to championship form.

“I want our fans to know the most difficult [type of player to get] are the guys like Scottie,” Ujiri said at one point. “We’re happy that we are starting off [our rebuild] with Scottie in our hands.”

At another juncture he said: “I think the most difficult thing to do when you do things like this is finding the Scottie Barneses of the world, and we’re lucky to have a really good young player like this to build around.”

It’s a big ask, and the Raptors will find out as Barnes heads into Year 4 if the 22-year-old is built for the job of franchise saviour. They’re certainly going to have to pay him as if he is as the former rookie of the year is eligible for a five-year contract extension this summer that could be worth as much as $269 million.

But even a talent as versatile as Barnes — he was the only player in the NBA to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks when a broken hand cost him the last 22 games of the regular season — needs help.

And if there is one blemish on the Raptors’ front office’s track record under Ujiri, it’s that it hasn’t done a great job at identifying complementary pieces to enhance the ones they’ve gained through drafting, development or trade. Since Toronto was last at the top of Eastern Conference, its free agent additions have included a not murder’s row of Alex Len, Aron Baynes, Otto Porter Jr., Juancho Hernangomez and, this year, Jalen McDaniels, and Dennis Schroder, who Ujiri said on media day would be an improvement on Fred VanVleet, who left the Raptors in free agency last summer.

For whatever reason, Schroder did not turn out to be an improvement on VanVleet, a former All-Star who had a strong season with the Houston Rockets. Schroder proved such a poor fit that the Raptors had to trade him for nothing, essentially, as they waived Spencer Dinwiddie, who was the matching piece sent from the Brooklyn Nets when they made the deal at the trade deadline.

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“It’s interesting that we’ve studied all of this,” said Ujiri. “The last couple years, we just haven’t done very well in assessing like what those [free agent] fits could be. … We 100 per cent need to do like a better job of finding some of those players.”

It doesn’t help that their drafting and development pipeline has run dry lately. Luck has been a factor, as Christian Koloko, an intriguing defensive centre who showed promise as a rookie in 2022-23, had to stop playing due to a medical issue. Or that Jontay Porter, who showed some life when the Raptors signed him to a two-way contract mid-season, earned himself a lifetime ban from the NBA for betting games and — in at least one instance — intentionally underperforming in a game with the Raptors to help a gambling associate cash in on a big bet.

But, still, the Raptors traded out of the first round in 2022, the year they drafted Koloko, and missed the chance to draft Walker Kessler, who has emerged as one of the best shot blockers in the NBA for the Utah Jazz. And, in 2020, they chose (since traded) Malachi Flynn 29th, instead of Memphis Grizzlies star Desmond Bane with the 30th pick.

And since signing now-veteran Chris Boucher as their first-ever two-way player prior to the 2018-19 season, the Raptors haven’t turned a two-way player into a rotation player since.

Not that the Raptors are without options, or reasons for the mostly sunny brand of optimism that has been the consistent theme as first the players, then head coach Darko Rajakovic, and lastly Ujiri help forth on the season that was.

Barnes does indeed seem poised to become a star of some wattage. Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, acquired via trade, are promising young players entering their primes. Rookie Gradey Dick looks like he’ll have a chance to be a winning rotation player sooner than later. Veterans Kelly Olynyk and Jakob Poeltl provide stability at centre that Toronto hasn’t had of late. And Ochai Agbaji could be a much-needed defensive stopper if he can sort out his cranky jump shot. The Raptors aren’t starting from scratch.

“For us to go through a year like this was tough on everybody,” Ujiri said. “But we really see the bright side. I think sports is a cycle and our organization is going to go through different cycles, and this is our time but we’re going to take all the positives from this and build on it as much as we can going forward.”

For years, the message among the Raptors fanbase was ‘In Masai we trust.’ His string of successes on their way to their 2019 title almost seemed preordained.

But as the Raptors lean in to a rebuild for the first time, it’s apparent that for Ujiri to be able to celebrate a title again — properly this time — he’s put his trust in Scottie Barnes.

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Report: Ryan Smith says Coyotes’ move to Utah is ‘no secret’

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 14:58

While the NHL has not officially confirmed that the Arizona Coyotes are relocating to Salt Lake City, it appears reported soon-to-be owner Ryan Smith has gone ahead and done so anyway.

The Sporting Tribune’s Arash Markazi shared quotes from Smith on social media.

“There’s no secret,” said Smith, speaking at a sports business conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday. “Not everything on the internet is true but in this case it’s true.”

Smith, who also owns the NBA’s Utah Jazz, is reportedly purchasing the team from the NHL for $1.2 billion.

“I have incredible faith in the people of Utah,” he added. “We show up. It’ll be packed. I’m excited about that and showing that. There’s so much work to do from the practice facility on down to everything else but we’ll get it done.”

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said during Saturday Headlines on Hockey Night in Canada that the league hopes to announce the transaction this week.

“The way it sounds right now, I think there’s a real desire to announce this Thursday or Friday,” Friedman said. “But a desire and the ability to do it are two different things. The next few days will be critical to either closing it or getting everybody into a position where they’re comfortable enough to do it and legally protected enough to do it even if it’s not fully closed.”

Meanwhile, Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo and general manager Bill Armstrong have not publicly commented on the relocation or sale.

“There has been a lot of discussion in recent days about the future of the Arizona Coyotes,” Meruelo said in the statement released Saturday by the team. “We are focused on a myriad of issues that are unresolved, and therefore we are unable to make any official public comments at this time.”

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Maple Leafs’ Matthews in vs. Lightning and shooting for 70

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 14:57

TAMPA — He’s in.

As if there was any doubt.

Yes, Auston Matthews — stalled at 69 goals and hungry for 70 — will play in an otherwise meaningless Game 82 for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night at Amalie Arena.

Shooters shoot.

After being noncommittal on the topic Tuesday night in Sunrise, head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Matthews will play with one goal and one game to go.

The Leafs’ decision makers briefly discussed dressing seven defencemen and scratching a forward.

“The 70-goal thing aside, Auston’s playing good and feeling good. If I had more guys to sit or rest, he wouldn’t be at the top of the list for me, quite honestly,” Keefe said. “In terms of Auston, there wasn’t much a discussion there.”

Matthews, 26, has already secured his third Rocket Richard Trophy and demolished his old franchise record for most goals in single Leafs season.

But his teammates, his fans, and the man himself have had their sights on a goal-scoring milestone that hasn’t been touched in 31 years, when Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny hit 70 in 1992-93. Only eight players in NHL history have scored 70.

“For 34 to be able to get 70 and to be able to say you were in the building, as a fan, would be super cool to see,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper told reporters.

“Problem is, I’m the coach of the other team. So, we have to find a way to prevent that. But he’s done it 69 times against a whole bunch of other teams trying to prevent it, so it’s hard to do. We’ll see what happens.”

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Because the outcome of the regular-season finale has zero bearing on playoff positioning — Toronto is locked into a series with Boston; Tampa is getting hyped for an intrastate battle with Florida — the Maple Leafs could have elected to rest Matthews and dress extra defencemen.

Keefe did exactly that down the stretch with Matthews and other minutes-munching stars down the stretch in 2023 and 2022, thus prioritizing rest and avoiding risk of injury with Game 1 penciled in for Saturday at TD Garden.

Captain John Tavares acknowledges that, when used judiciously, load management “can be very forward-thinking.” What a hockey player should not do, however, is hop over the boards thinking solely about personal safety, he argued.

“I personally don’t think you can play the game that way,” Tavares said. “It’s too competitive. It puts you in the wrong mindset.”

Veteran defencemen Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, and Joel Edmundson are projected to sit Game 82 and rest for the playoffs.

Matthews isn’t the only all-star forward targeting a big, juicy number Wednesday.

Matthews chasing 70 goals on Sportsnet

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews will look to hit the 70-goal milestone when the team takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night in their regular-season finale. Catch the game on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

Preview the game

Tampa’s Hart Trophy candidate, Art Ross frontrunner Nikita Kucherov, has piled 99 assists and needs just one more to join Connor McDavid, Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, and Mario Lemieux in the exclusive 100 Club.

Meanwhile, William Nylander has piled up 97 points and needs just three to crack 100 for the first time in his career.

The ice-cold Nylander hasn’t scored a goal in 10 games, a span during which he has just three helpers.

“Willy is known for his production,” teammate Nick Robertson said. “That’s what the big money is for — for him to produce. Every player goes through times like this.”

Wednesday is the last night to reach milestones and inject meaning into what should be a rare no-hitter featuring Toronto and Tampa.

Backup Matt Tomkins (.891) is the projected starter for the Lightning, while third-stringer Martin Jones gets the nod for Toronto.

“If we were going to coach differently, Sheldon and I would both pull our goalie in the first five minutes and make it 6-on-5, stats don’t go against them,” Cooper said, smiling.

“Just get [the milestones] over with. Because, in the end, would anyone really remember that? Probably not. But it does make for great TV.”

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Tourigny: Coyotes must keep emotions in check in final Arizona game

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 14:47

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UFC announces return to Louisville, first event in 13 years

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 14:45

The UFC is making its return to Lousiville, Ky., the promotion announced on Wednesday.

It will be the second time in UFC history that the promotion will hold a fight card in the derby city, the only other time coming in 2011 for UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann.

A June 8 date is penciled in for the event at the KFC Yum! Center, a venue typically used to host the Louisville men’s and women’s basketball teams.

On June 7, the WWE will be in town and making use of the venue before its TKO Group partner takes over and turns the ring into an octagon the next day.

Details on the card, such as a main event bout, have yet to be announced by the UFC. Given the fact that June 8 falls right between UFC 302 and 303 on the schedule, MMA fans can expect it to be a Fight Night card.

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Lightning’s Cooper on Matthews approaching 70 goals: ‘Find a way to prevent that’

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 14:38

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper wants to see Nikita Kucherov reach 100 assists on Wednesday.

Ideally, he does not want to see Auston Matthews hit 70 goals. Though he does admit it would be cool to see.

“For 34 to be able to get 70 and to be able to say you were in the building — as a fan — would be super cool,” said Cooper ahead of Wednesday night’s matchup between the Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. “The problem is, I’m the coach of the other team, so we have to find a way to prevent that.”

Matthews sits at 69 goals on the season heading into the game. It marks the highest single-season goals total in the salary-cap era.

Matthews chasing 70 goals on Sportsnet

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews will look to hit the 70-goal milestone when the team takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night in their regular-season finale. Catch the game on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

Preview the game

On the prospect of his own player hitting a major milestone, Cooper said: “Clearly I’m pulling for 86 to get his 100th assist. What a remarkable accomplishment that would be.”

If Kucherov reaches the mark, he joins Connor McDavid, who hit 100 assists on Monday, as the only players to do so in the last 33 years.

The coach also joked that one way to ensure the two milestones happen would be for him and Leafs bench boss Sheldon Keefe to pull their respective goaltenders “in the first five minutes.”

However, to the Maple Leafs’ and Matthews’ benefit, it sounds like the Lightning may be icing a slightly weaker lineup for the game.

“We have barely enough guys to dress 20,” Cooper told reporters when asked if he would be resting anyone. “If it doesn’t go the right way in the next few hours, we’re playing short. We’re resting out of necessity because we have to heal some wounds. … Hopefully, we get some of these guys healthy here for the weekend.”

The matchup marks the regular-season finale for both the Maple Leafs and the Lightning, with the former slated to face the Boston Bruins in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs and the latter set to meet the Florida Panthers.

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Breaking down what Maple Leafs’ lines should be against the Bruins

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 14:21

In my time working for Sheldon Keefe and the Toronto Marlies, we played five playoff series over two years, some with ample lead time to prepare, and others that recquired immediate turnaround. In those (insanely busy) days, I got a sense for what the now-Leafs coach prioritizes when it comes to preparation.

Below is a generalized look at how I saw him prepare for a playoff series and, using that knowledge, where I think he’ll land on an optimal lineup for this year’s Maple Leafs against the Bruins.

Watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sportsnet

It all comes down to this: 16 teams, one trophy. Watch every game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs live on Sportsnet+, beginning on April 20.

Broadcast schedule

How prep looks in the regular season

During the season-long grind, you just don’t have the ability to spend much time on your opponent. It’s all about you. You play multiple games per week, you travel, and you need to sleep at some point. You’re more likely to have a single day (or none at all) to prep for a regular season opponent than you are two or more. It’s tight.

Each game day, you’ll need to have a power play meeting, a penalty kill meeting, and a 5-on-5 meeting that addresses how you want your own team to play. Yes, you’ll have a separate meeting about your opponent each game day, but that’s generally to discuss an overview of their systems and not their individual players, unless they have someone hyper-unique.

While video plays in that meeting the discussion might sound like “Hey, let’s be aware that they send two forecheckers hard as you can see here, one at each D, which means little quick-ups and bumps should be able to push it past their pressure and allow us to break out fairly clean. Here’s another example.”

But on game days Keefe likes to have five-minute meetings (max) to keep the players’ attention, and those are spread throughout game day (some after morning skate, some when players arrive in the evening). Pro hockey coaching is really an exercise in building small presentations.

In sum, given the limited time you have to prepare in the regular season, and the limited attention span you might get from the players in meetings, you’re best to control what you can control — and that’s the guys on your own bench. You know that if you execute well on the power play and trust your talent, you should be fine. Same on the penalty kill. You ask your team to be mentally prepared and believe that if they’re where you’re asking them to be, you’ll come out on top.

Preparing for a first-round playoff series is very different, though.

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How you prepare for a post-season match-up

You have time to get more granular with a playoff opponent. The Leafs knew they’d be playing the Boston Bruins in Round 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs days before Game 1, so their video coaches will be working feverishly to prepare. The puck won’t drop until the weekend, so you best believe they’ve brushed through the playoff series the Bruins lost last year, all their head-to-head matchups this year, and all of Boston’s games from the past few weeks. How have they looked in the games they were most pressed to win?

You’re looking to answer these questions: What do they do as a team systems-wise? What does their individual personnel do well, and poorly? What do we need to pay extra attention to? And what can we exploit?

The list of pre-playoff series meetings is long (both in number and duration), but my favourite is the opponent personnel meeting partially because it’s unique to the post-season, but also because Keefe likes to involve the whole dressing room. You have the chance to hear from players who rarely speak.

I used to start with a snapshot of the opposition’s full lineup, then show a slide with player names above three boxes that highlighted a single forward line, with individual player stats, dimensions, and a scouting report built out over the course of the season. I’d try to summarize individuals as well as the line’s overall strengths, then would show each individual’s tendencies that I’d been able to pick up by watching them over the year and during prep (or by asking around).

I remember writing that Yanni Gourde was the heart of the Syracuse Crunch, smart and shifty, energetic and tenacious. And that he liked to pull up inside the offensive blue line and look to hit the second wave of forwards. Then, we showed several clips where he pulled up and looked for a trailing player. If you were a Toronto Marlies defenceman and recognized that you were skating backwards against a driving Gourde, you’d be smart not to turn your feet and chase, but rather give him an extra second to pull up, knowing you could go right at him and close the gap. (Assuming your video coach knows what he’s talking about, which y’know…hits and misses.)

Then, Keefe would open up the question about the players on the line we analyzed to the whole room. Who’s played with any of these guys? Are we missing anything about what they like or don’t like? Is there any particular way we should play them?

Inevitably at this time, someone who’s been quiet all year will pipe up “Lay the body to (Player X). He’ll shut down.”

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Taking in the information behind the scenes

What I’ve outlined above was the first step in coming up with a plan, but it just presents you with a clear look at all the pieces in this unique puzzle that you’ve got to solve.

Actually solving it is the next question.

Here’s where you dig in on usage, like “Where does the opposing coach use his players?” You’ll want to know who they’re most likely to put on the ice after a power play (is that a spot you can find an advantage?), or which penalty killers usually go out first and what their tendencies are.

This is also where your focus reverts back to what matters: at the end of the day, it’s the performance of your own team that matters most. If you build your lineup strictly to counteract your opposition, you’ll always be counterpunching rather than punching first.

Enter the analytics team, who will bring their mountain of numbers, the most interesting of which is their “optimized lineup.” Basically, based on the success certain players have had with certain teammates, and in the interest of creating four lines that show up highlighted in some shade of green rather than any red, they present an idea of how to put the lineup together.

Now, that doesn’t set the lineup, of course. Some players get hot late, some cool, some have nagging injuries, some combinations that work well weren’t discovered until late in the season, and there are sample size issues. But this optimized lineup from the analytics team at least provides a framework to build on. Often if you can identify “this is the best line we’ve put together all season”, it’s a great starting point.

For the Leafs, that likely means you’ll get Bertuzzi-Matthews-Domi in Game 1, their best statistical line that saw at least five games together.

And that brings me to what we’re doing in this piece today. Let’s take a look at the Leafs’ lineup, and build it the best we can for the playoffs. We’ll assume they’re fully healthy, and we’ll remember that sometimes you have to pass on good lines to make your best four-line cavalry.

Again, I go back to the idea that you should build the best group you can and punch with it, rather than put your team on its heels trying to defend against your opponent’s strengths. If you hit at their weaknesses, they’ll be unlikely to get on their good foot to kick your team down.

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Toronto’s best playoff lineup

I don’t think the lineup I would dress in Game 1 is Toronto’s “optimal” lineup because I do think I’d make room for Ryan Reaves. They’ll be on the road, in a building that can feel like you’re taking on the whole world, and the Bruins will definitely – as will their fans – be pushing to intimidate the Leafs. Reaves has the strength and swagger to mitigate that somewhat, to challenge the Bruins in their building, and make them answer a few questions. This Leafs team can use that.

It helps that for the past couple months Reaves has been a very effective hockey player too, getting in on forechecks, laying the body, and jawing at the opposition.

But in the lineup below, I’ll leave him out. I don’t think he’ll stay in as the series goes on and the Leafs work to find goals against two elite goalies. I also don’t think he’d get into an elimination game. Reaves is there if you need him to set the tone for a playoff series, but him being in isn’t “optimal” for me.

So let’s take a look at my optimal Maple Leafs forward group when healthy, and allow me to explain further.

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Domi
Jarnkrok-Tavares-Marner
McMann-Holmberg-Nylander
Knies-Kampf-Dewar

Extras: Reaves, Robertson, Gregor

I believe the Leafs need to spread their stars across three lines. The Bruins simply aren’t deep enough to roll out a third line that can shut William Nylander down, regardless of who he plays with. Between Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Nylander, it’s Nylander who is most capable of creating his own offence, so I like him as the third-liner knowing he’ll be plugged in for inevitable extra shifts and on the power play to ensure he gets 19 minutes.

Bobby McMann and Pontus Holmberg are defensively responsible guys, so I like that line to at least tread water until Nylander or McMann can get a random look and rip home the odd bonus goal from the “third” line.

Having David Kampf centre the fourth line automatically makes it a reliable group, and Connor Dewar is a must for a mediocre PK team to have in. Matthew Knies isn’t in a great offensive spot here, but when compared with Nick Robertson, Knies is a big, useful depth player even when he’s not contributing offence. Both guys could chip in a big goal for, but Knies is less likely to cost you one against and he could contribute offence from the bottom of the lineup in a way we haven’t seen from a Leafs fourth line in the past.

I want my lineup choices to be seen as praise for the guys who get in, rather than knocks against the guys left out. I said I’d start Game 1 with Reaves in, likely in place of whoever is too injured to play right away (McMann?). I’d also be quick to put Robertson back in if the Leafs can’t create enough offence.

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Toronto out-shot, out-scored, and out-chanced the Bruins over their four matchups this season, according to Natural Stat Trick. But they had the lowest high-danger shooting percentage against the Bruins of any Eastern Conference team (just over nine per cent) because Boston’s defence closes space quick and their goalies are elite. Robertson is one of the Leafs’ best finishers in those spots, so he could be a valuable guy to sub in. (Not to mention, he’s had well-publicized success coming out of the press box this season.)

And finally, if you need some speed, Noah Gregor as a 15th forward is a luxury item. He finishes checks, kills penalties and can put the opposition’s defence on its heels.

Now, the back-end.

Rielly-Lyubushkin
Benoit-McCabe
Edmundson-Liljegren

Extras: Brodie, Giordano, Timmins

Just as with the forwards, I’m not sure this is the optimal lineup for Game 1 against Boston.

Timothy Liljegren has been hurt, often needs time to find his game again after returning from semi-regular injuries, and the Bruins generally eat his lunch. Maybe he shouldn’t start in the Leafs’ six.

But the Leafs just don’t have enough puck movers and skaters on the back-end, and frankly there’s a very small drop off in physicality from TJ Brodie to Liljegren anyway, so they may as well play the right-handed kid who can make a few more plays.

The one thing I can’t get past, though, is that when Brodie dresses they still use him a ton. He’s a security blanket. So he will play against Boston at some point.

Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson are both on the fringes of in/out of the lineup as well, and are a bad performance away from Brodie drawing back in. Some rest seemed to help Brodie in his last go-round anyway, so it’s possible it helps him again.

And in net:

Samsonov
Woll
Jones

Two goalies with high ceilings and low floors, but Ilya Samsonov is the guy they crowned with about eight games to go in the season. If he doesn’t get near that ceiling, they should quickly go to Joseph Woll, and if he can’t get to his ceiling, well, by then the series would be just about over anyway. But either guy could get red hot and it wouldn’t shock me.

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In all, Keefe will default back to what he knows and likes best when the chips are down, regardless of how he starts out in Game 1.

That was a lot of words to get to this point. As far as Game 1 against the Boston Bruins goes, I think Toronto’s lineup will look something like this:

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Domi
Jarnkrok-Tavares-Marner
Knies-Holmberg-Nylander
Dewar-Kampf-Reaves

Rielly-Lyubushkin
Benoit-McCabe
Edmundson-Liljegren/Brodie

Samsonov
Woll

Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Estate attorney says O.J. Simpson has been cremated, no public memorial planned

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 13:58

LAS VEGAS — Former football star and celebrity criminal defendant O.J. Simpson was cremated Wednesday, the lawyer handling his estate said following his death last week at home in Las Vegas at age 76.

Attorney Malcolm LaVergne told The Associated Press he was present, along with unspecified other people, for the morning event at Palm Mortuary in downtown Las Vegas.

“I am able to verify that O.J. Simpson was cremated today,” LaVergne said shortly afterward. “Others were present, but I’m not disclosing who.” He declined to provide details of the process.

A telephone message for Palm Mortuary was not immediately returned.

LaVergne is handling Simpson’s trust and estate in Nevada state court. He said Simpson’s cremains will be given to Simpson’s children “to do with as they please, according to the wishes of their father.”

No public memorial was planned, the attorney said.

Simpson died April 10 after he was diagnosed last year with prostate cancer.

LaVergne said in a Tuesday interview that he visited Simpson just before Easter at the country club home where Simpson leased southwest of the Las Vegas Strip, and described Simpson as “awake, alert and chilling” sitting on a couch, drinking a beer and ”just catching up on the news.”

On April 5, a doctor told LaVergne that Simpson was “transitioning,” as the attorney described it, and by last week Simpson only had strength to ask for water and to choose to watch a TV golf tournament instead of a tennis match.

A post on April 11 from Simpson’s family on X, formerly Twitter, said Simpson “succumbed to his battle with cancer.” It asked on their behalf for “privacy and grace.”

“You have to remember that they’ve shared O.J. with the world their entire lives,” LaVergne said Tuesday of Simpson’s surviving adult children of his first marriage — Arnelle Simpson, now 55, and Jason Simpson, 53 — and the children Simpson had with ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson before she was killed in 1994: Sydney Simpson, 38, and Justin Simpson, 35. “And they have the added burden that he is one of the most famous people on the planet, and who is polarizing and who is surrounded by controversy.”

Simpson’s children are the only beneficiaries of his estate, LaVergne said, adding he is now working to determine the value of Simpson’s assets. He said Tuesday that Simpson did not own a home in states where he had lived — including Nevada, California and Florida.

Simpson was a record-setting football star during 11 years as a running back in the NFL and became a movie actor, sportscaster and television advertising pitchman before he was famously acquitted of criminal charges alleging he stabbed his ex-wife and her friend, Ronald Goldman, to death in 1994 in Los Angeles. The proceedings in California in 1996 became known as the “trial of the century.”

Simpson was found liable for the deaths in 1997 by a separate California civil court jury and was ordered to pay the families of Simpson’s slain ex-wife and Goldman $33.5 million in compensation. LaVergne acknowledged Simpson died without paying the bulk of that judgment.

In Las Vegas, Simpson went to prison in 2008 for nine years after being found guilty of armed robbery in a 2007 encounter at a casino-hotel with two collectibles dealers.

He was released from prison in October 2017 and lived a golf-and-country club lifestyle in Las Vegas — sometimes offering social media posts about sports and golf. His last message was on Feb. 11, when the NFL championship Super Bowl was played in Las Vegas. He did not attend the game.

Attorney David Cook, representing the Goldman family, said Tuesday he thought the civil judgment owed today, including unpaid interest, is more than $114 million. LaVergne he believed the amount was more than $200 million, and that Simpson’s assets won’t amount to that.

LaVergne said he intends invite representatives of the Goldman and Brown families to “view my homework” with the Simpson estate, ”with the caveat that if they believe something else is out there … they’re going to have to use their own attorneys, their own resources, to try and chase down that pot of gold.”

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Tocchet explains what is at stake for Canadian teams in the playoffs

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 13:56

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Aaron Sluchinski adds Kyle Doering to lineup for next season

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 13:51

Aaron Sluchinski’s team announced Wednesday on social media that Kyle Doering has joined the club for next season.

Sluchinski was searching for a new player after second Kerr Drummond stepped back from competitive curling. The Airdrie, Alta., team also includes third Jeremy Harty and lead Dylan Webster.

Sluchinski had a breakout season, winning the Boston Pizza Cup to represent Alberta at the Montana’s Brier for the first time and also competed in three Grand Slam of Curling events. The team finished 16th in the world rankings and seventh among Canadian clubs.

Doering has spent the past two years playing with Edmonton’s Karsten Sturmay and was also on the lookout for a new squad after his skip announced his departure from competitive curling.

Winnipegger Doering earned a silver medal at the world men’s curling championship earlier this month as the alternate on Team Canada, skipped by Brad Gushue.

Doering captured the Canadian junior title and a world junior bronze medal in 2016 playing with skip Matt Dunstone.

The Canadian men’s curling landscape has seen several shifts in recent days. Brendan Bottcher’s teammates announced Tuesday they were looking for a new skip and Reid Carruthers’ team revealed Wednesday it has parted ways with skip Brad Jacobs. Skip Glenn Howard also announced his retirement Tuesday.

Meanwhile, skip John Epping unveiled his new team last week, featuring third Tanner Horgan, second Jacob Horgan and lead Ian McMillan.

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Categories: Canada Sports News, Ontario Sports News, Pro Sports News

Erik Karlsson calls Penguins ‘a huge disappointment’ after missing playoffs

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 13:30

Superstar defenceman Erik Karlsson was quite blunt about the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ season after they were eliminated from playoff contention.

The Washington Capitals clinched the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night, meaning Pittsburgh will miss the post-season for the second consecutive year.

For Karlsson, who joined the Penguins in August after a blockbuster trade with the San Jose Sharks, his playoff drought has now reached five straight seasons.

“We are a huge disappointment,” Karlsson said after Wednesday’s morning skate, according to The Athletic. “Huge. We underachieved so much and it’s very disappointing. There’s no other way to say it.”

Some of that accountability falls on Karlsson, who posted career highs across the board last season with 25 goals and 76 assists for 101 points to earn his third career James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s top defenceman.

Karlsson’s numbers dipped to 55 points (11 goals and 44 assists) this season — still good but not good enough, given his level of talent and playing alongside fellow future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

“Oh, it’s on all of us,” Karlsson said. “We are a lot better than what we showed this year. I know that much.

“I know we have a better team than this,” he added. “We are capable of more than this.”

Crosby’s assessment wasn’t as harsh, as he pointed to moments throughout the season where points simply slipped away.

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“I mean, when you’re talking about one or two points, I think a lot of different games you look at, or instances, it’s hard to turn one or two points and magnify that into what the reason is necessarily, but there’s probably different things,” Crosby told reporters Wednesday. “I think the obvious one is just multiple games when we had leads and we ended up not even getting points in some of those.”

The Penguins power play was a major letdown as it held the second-worst success rate in the league at 14.6 per cent — behind only the Philadelphia Flyers, at 12.2 per cent — and have also given up a league-leading 12 short-handed goals.

“We tried so hard to work it all out but we never really did,” Karlsson said. “We couldn’t get our minds out of the situation. That’s what happens. When you’re into something so incredibly deep like we all were on the power play, I think it actually becomes harder to see and figure out what the solution is. You try to get yourself out of that mindset. You try and try. You want to get rid of this feeling that you have, that something’s not right on the power play and you want to fix it. But we couldn’t.”

The Penguins went 7-1-2 over their past 10 games of the season in a valiant last grasp playoff push. Crosby, who leads the team with 92 points, said there were some positives to draw from as far as how they finished down the stretch.

“I thought that the whole group showed a lot of character,” Crosby said. “I think that every single guy stepped up and had a part in us still being in it, so I think there’s something to take from that. But at the same time, we’ll look at a lot of different games and plays and probably want a lot of those back.

“I think if you look at the season as a whole, obviously, I think we feel like we were capable of being a playoff team and there are some games there that we let slip.”

Crosby, Malkin and Letang will be back for a record-extending 19th season together — the longest tenured trio in North American sports. Letang is locked up through to the end of the 2027-28 season, Crosby has one year remaining on his current deal while Malkin has two.

The 33-year-old Karlsson is signed for another three seasons and doesn’t appear to believe a total rebuild is necessary if only to allow this group to prove itself.

“Well, let’s just put it this way,” Karlsson said. “I just hope we’re together for a bit longer, because that way, we would get another chance to show just what we are capable of doing. I think we’ve learned a lot this season. I just want the power play to be a non-issue starting next season. It snowballed on us and we never got out of it. But I know we’re so much better than this and I want us to get the chance to prove it.”

The Penguins finish their season Wednesday night on the road against the New York Islanders.

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Sportsnet’s 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: April Edition

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 13:26

NHL team draft lists remain a work in progress. While there is more clarity and certainty as we draw near the end of the season, there’s still a number of teams competing and of course, there’s the Under-18 World Championships which begin April 25 in Finland. With no Russian or Belarussian involvement, the rest of the world’s hockey-playing nations will send their best draft eligibles to the tournament, along with a few younger players eligible for the 2025 NHL draft.

Beyond that, there are other high-end players still in the mix for a league title or the Memorial Cup.

Remember, there are some players in this draft with late birthdays (after Sept. 15, 2005) whose seasons have come to a close. For example, Carter Yakemchuk’s Calgary Hitmen failed to qualify for the WHL playoffs, while Zeev Buium’s tremendous freshman season ended with a National Championship victory for Denver. Players anticipating an NHL Combine invite will have a short break away from the game before ratcheting up training in preparation for the off-ice testing portion of the event. As per usual, the NHL Scouting Combine will take place in Buffalo in early June.

There will also be some draft-eligible players who will be asked to participate in the men’s world championships, as Adam Fantilli did for Canada last year. Macklin Celebrini (Canada), Buium (United States) and Konsta Helenius (Finland) may all find themselves in that situation. Regardless of Celebrini’s participation, he will go first overall in June at the Sphere in Vegas. Buium, while having experienced an epic rise through the rankings, could go even higher should he play for the U.S. and be as successful as he was with Denver. And based on his season in Liiga, Helenius should fit right in with the Finnish men’s national team. In any event, players evaluated at the senior level rarely hurt their final ranking, but there is room for upward movement.

This point in the scouting schedule has plenty of benefits. Scouts can narrow their focus and catch multiple games of a series to provide additional context on multiple players. General managers, whose teams will not compete in the NHL playoffs, can get out on the road and get in-person viewings of players they expect to see when it’s their turn to pick.

All told, any hockey being played right now is high-leverage, high-pressure hockey, and viewings in those circumstances carry additional weighting in the final evaluation process.

While most consider a ledge in this draft after Celebrini and again in the 20 range, the projected top 10 is crowded and has increasingly become a difficult task to complete. Every time you turn around, a star-studded player is accomplishing another incredible feat. Celebrini was in tough against Cutter Gauthier and Jackson Blake, but still emerged as the Hobey Baker winner. Ivan Demidov continues to establish new marks in the MHL. Tij Iginla has been rising all season long and a top-10 pick is not out of reach for Jarome’s son. Could that pick be made by the Calgary Flames?

This draft remains defence-heavy, with a nice sprinkling of mostly averaged-sized forwards. We have players from all corners of the world, and we also have a diversity of players from all levels. As we move further down in Round 1, the apples-to-apples comparisons become much more difficult. We will have further clarification once the draft lottery is held in the first week of May. In the meantime, here are the rankings for April.

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1. Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University, (NCAA)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 190 pounds

After winning the Hobey Baker, there’s nothing left for him to do in the amateur ranks. Would love to see him play for Canada in the men’s worlds.

2. Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State University (NCAA)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 208 pounds

A big, right-shot, mobile defenceman provides considerably less risk than other Eastern European players high on the board.

3. Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 181 pounds

Demidov has demonstrated he’s unfazed by demolishing the MHL. Not just in the regular season, but his playoff numbers have already set the gold standard for draft eligibles in the league and there are still games to play.

4. Anton Silayev, D, Torpedo (KHL)
Height: Six-foot-seven Weight: 211 pounds

A player every NHL team will clamour for based on what we’ve seen in recent Stanley Cup contenders and champions.

5. Carter Yakemchuk, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 190 pounds

As a late birthday, he won’t get a chance to play in the U18s, so the on-ice portion of his book is closed. Thirty goals and 120 penalty minutes are two eye-popping stats.

6. Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 178 pounds

At the top of my list for the most dynamic defenceman I’ve seen in the CHL, which dates back to when I first started broadcasting games in the late 1990s.

7. Zeev Buium, D, University of Denver (NCAA)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 183 pounds

Exposure playing almost 30 minutes in each of the two games en route to a National Championship gave the general public a look at what scouts have seen all season long.

8. Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 204 pounds

Dickinson brings a complete package to the table. He will try to force the difficult play on occasion when the simple play would be most effective.

9. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane Chiefs, (WHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 170 pounds

Catton has built currency dating back to the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer. His 54 goals and 116 points this season with Spokane provided further evidence that he belongs here.

10. Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 186 pounds

Iginla’s continued rise up the charts didn’t end in the regular season. He had a brilliant Round 1, but the Rockets have run into a much more difficult second-round opponent.

11. Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 210 pounds

With this latest setback, there is some concern that the injuries that limited Lindstrom to 36 games (regular season and playoffs) are more lasting than originally thought.

12. Cole Eiserman, LW, USNTDP
Height: Six-foot Weight: 197 pounds

Completely aware of why he’s slid, Eiserman will be a fascinating study at the U18s where the U.S. isn’t the heavy favourite it’s been in years past.

13. Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Liiga)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 180 pounds

Two straight years of middle-six production as a teenager in Liiga inspires confidence that Helenius’s game will translate seamlessly to the NHL.

14. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 175 pounds

Sennecke loves to cut to the middle on the rush from the off side but is also a serious threat to beat opponents wide off the rush on the strong side.

15. Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 211 pounds

Greentree is a safe bet who plays a power-forward role with elevated skill, especially in the goal-scoring realm.

16. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW, Mora (Allsvenskan)
Height: Six-foot-one Weight: 194 pounds

Brandsegg-Nygard is a player you can trust in all situations and someone who has produced well at the pro level despite mid-tier minutes.

17. Trevor Connelly, C, Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Height: Six-foot-one Weight: 156 pounds

It will be interesting to see how Connelly fits in both on and off-ice with the U.S. at the U18s.

18. Igor Chernyshov, LW, Moscow Dynamo (MHL)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 192 pounds

Chernyshov is a steady all-around player who has a penchant for hunting pucks. He doesn’t need much time or space to create offence and he can score at ease.

19. Andrew Basha, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight 184 pounds

Cayden Lindstrom drew scouts to Medicine Hat and in the process, Andrew Basha and Tomas Mrsic have emerged as legit prospects. Basha plays with passion, he’s highly competitive and is quick to make plays.

20. Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Height: Six-foot-one Weight: 190 pounds

Hage had a huge bounce-back season resulting in 1.39 points per game. He moves well and is involved in the play. When engaged, he is a threat whenever he comes over the boards.

21. Sacha Boisvert, C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Heigh: Six-foot-two Weight: 176 pounds

Boisvert has shown off some different dynamic elements throughout the season, but putting them all together game in and game out has been inconsistent.

22. Adam Jiricek, D, HC Plzen (Extraliiga)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 178 pounds

Jiricek’s size and two-way ability certainly tantalize scouts but he hasn’t played since the world juniors and several other defencemen have progressed more.

23. Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 174 pounds

Parascak closed the regular season strong, with nine goals in his final eight games, to finish with 105 points. His point production has been remarkably consistent, including the playoffs to date.

24. Jett Luchanko, C, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 185 pounds

Luchanko won’t be able to avoid the spotlight now as he did for most of the season. He will have a chance to shine for Canada and play to his identity as a smart, skilled, two-way forward at the U18s.

25. Aron Kiviharju, D, Jokerit (Liiga)
Height: Five-foot-nine Weight: 170 pounds

Kiviharju missed most of the season after having surgery in the fall but there could be some vindication if he can get back up to speed for Finland at the world championships.

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26. Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 175 pounds

Vanacker plays with pace, has a good stick and protects the puck well. He can drive play but is equally adept at playing with other high-end skilled players.

27. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 175 pounds

Ritchie ended the playoffs on a five-game heater and will now get a chance to reclaim a spot higher up the rankings with a good showing for Canada at the U18s.

28. Julius Miettinen, C, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Height: Six-foot-three Weight: 205 pounds

Miettinen is a responsible, hard-working centre who is strong on draws. He outsmarts and outmuscles opponents all over the ice.

29. Leo Sahlin Wallenius, D, Vaxjo U20 (SHL)
Height: Six-foot Weight: 176 pounds

A smooth skating defenceman who can transport the puck. Sahlin Wallenius is a threat as an addition on the rush and projects as a secondary powerplay threat.

30. Dean Letourneau, C, St. Andrew’s College (High school, Ontario)
Height: Six-foot-six Weight 210 pounds

Letourneau dominated at the high school level and clearly has the size everyone desires. It would have been great to see him at the U18s, but absent that, he will have the NHL Combine testing and interview period to prove he belongs in Round 1.

31. Brodie Ziemer, RW, USNTDP
Height: Five-foot-11 Weight: 192 pounds

Mature both on and off the ice, Ziemer plays an intense, responsible two-way game. He possesses impressive leadership qualities and could wear a letter at some point in his career.

32. Luca Marelli, D, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Height: Six-foot-two Weight: 185 pounds

There’s nothing spectacular about Marelli’s game other than he plays safe, mistake-free hockey. He plays in control and with the poise of someone beyond his years.

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2024 Stanley Cup Playoff Preview: Hurricanes vs. Islanders

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 11:31

For the second straight year, the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders will meet in the first round of the post-season. The latter will once again hope for the upset, while the former will look to repeat history, Rod Brind’Amour’s squad having bounced the Islanders in six games last year to kick off a run that ended in the Conference Final.

The two clubs arrive at the Round 1 reunion having navigated opposing paths to the playoffs. Rewind a month and these Isles sat outside the playoff picture, with teams to leap if even a wild-card spot would be grabbed. The Canes, meanwhile, sat right where they are now, locked into the Metro’s No. 2 spot, trying to move up and take the crown.

For Lou Lamoriello’s Islanders, it’s been a tumultuous campaign, one that brought a mid-season coaching change, the arrival of the ever-entertaining Patrick Roy at the helm, and a late surge that saw the Isles collect the sixth-most points in the league over the past month.

On the other side of the ring, there’s Carolina. Fresh off that Conference Final run, and three straight years of being crowned division champs, the Canes roll into the 2024 playoffs once again looking to make good on their elite contender potential. Some shrewd additions at the trade deadline have them primed for progress, which means the Islanders figure to have their hands full come Round 1.

Case in point: Over that same month-long stretch that saw the Isles rack up points and march back into the playoff picture, no one won more, or collected more points, than the red-hot Hurricanes.

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Hurricanes Outlook: The Hurricanes are half a decade into being considered a bona fide top-tier contender, and are hungry to finally earn their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final since they lifted the thing back in ’06. Brind’Amour needs no reminder of what it would mean for the Canes faithful to get there again, having captained the squad that last made the leap.

But these Hurricanes feel different, more offensively dynamic. Their best have gotten better, and a group that already had some impressive depth has had two blue-chip talents in Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov dropped into the mix. The team they’re going up against is built around incredible goaltending depth, with Semyon Varlamov rolling at the moment, and the elite Ilya Sorokin waiting behind him. But these Canes seem to have enough firepower to nullify that advantage. And, let’s not forget, they’re getting some grade-A goaltending themselves, with Frederik Andersen sporting a .951 save percentage, with three shutouts, in the 10 games since he returned to the cage.

Carolina looks primed for another deep run, particularly after loading up at the deadline, and should have all they need to get by the Islanders and back into Round 2.

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Islanders Outlook: The Islanders were going to have an uphill battle in the first round no matter where they ended up finishing, but drawing the Canes should feel especially unlucky. They’re going up against a team that’s seemingly put it all together of late, a team getting elite performances all over their lineup, and sporting one of the league’s best goal differentials as a result.

Still, we need only look back to last year’s post-season to get a reminder of the perils of overlooking the underdogs, the 2023 Florida Panthers proving that once you claw your way into the playoffs, anything can happen. Anybody has a puncher’s chance. These Islanders don’t have quite the pedigree those Panthers did, but they do have one thing in common: they’ve spent the past few weeks playing desperate, playoff-style hockey as they’ve fought to lock up a spot in the dance.

If they have any chance against Carolina, it’ll come down to that momentum, and their elite goaltending holding the Hurricanes at bay.

ADVANCED STATS

(5-on-5 totals via Natural Stat Trick)

REGULAR SEASON TEAM STATS

Hurricanes X-Factor: Few deadline acquisitions pan out as well as Guentzel joining the Hurricanes. The long-time Pittsburgh Penguin has fit like a dream since arriving in Raleigh. In 17 games as a member of the Canes, the 29-year-old has put up eight goals and 25 points, thriving on a line with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis. Not only has he been a perfect fit, he’s in fact been Carolina’s best forward since his debut on March 12 — in the month since, Guentzel’s led all Hurricanes skaters in scoring, and stitched together an eight-game point streak, the longest by any Canes player this season.

That quick offensive success aside, it’s in the playoffs where Carolina will get their money’s worth, as that’s where Guentzel truly thrives. The 2017 Cup champ has 34 goals to his name in 58 career playoff tilts, and he’s a point-per-game player in the post-season overall. The last time he went on a deep run, he paced the league with 13 goals in 25 games as his Pens lifted the Cup.

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Islanders X-Factor: For the past two seasons, and much of this one, the Islanders’ net has been Sorokin’s to lose. The 28-year-old has established himself as one of the premier netminders in the game, and entered this season fresh off a sterling 2022-23 campaign that saw him lead the league in shutouts, put up a .924 save percentage, and earn a Vezina nomination. But 2023-24 has been a more uneven season for the Isles stalwart, Sorokin heading into the final stretch with a .908 save percentage, his fewest shutouts since joining the Islanders, and his fewest wins.

In his place, Varlamov has emerged as New York’s game-changer. While the cage was Sorokin’s for much of the year, it’s largely been all Varlamov for the past month, with the veteran starting eight of the team’s past 12 games. He’s gone 8-3-1 with a .922 save percentage in his most recent stretch of games, earning wins over playoff-bound clubs like Winnipeg, Florida, Nashville and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers. And Varlamov’s been particularly hot over the first couple weeks of April — in his past five games, the netminder’s unbeaten, has a shutout to his name (against the Preds) and is sporting a .945 save percentage, having allowed just eight goals on 146 shots.

POSSIBLE GAME 1 LINEUPS

Carolina Hurricanes

Jake Guentzel-Sebastian Aho-Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov-Evgeny Kuznetsov-Marty Necas
Jordan Martinook-Jordan Staal-Stefan Noesen
Jack Drury-Jesperi Kotkaniemi-Teuvo Teravainen

Jaccob Slavin-Brent Burns
Brady Skjei-Brett Pesce
Dmitry Orlov-Jalen Chatfield

Frederik Andersen

NY Islanders

Casey Cizikas-Bo Horvat-Mathew Barzal
Simon Holmstrom-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee-J.G. Pageau-Pierre Engvall
Matt Martin-Kyle MacLean-Cal Clutterbuck

Alexander Romanov-Noah Dobson
Adam Pelech-Ryan Pulock
Mike Reilly-Robert Bortuzzo

Semyon Varlamov

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Why home runs will determine Blue Jays’ fate in 2024

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 11:16

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays — as currently constructed — are not designed to bludgeon their opponents into submission.

Although that was clear entering the season, the team’s lack of power has been felt acutely in the early days of the 2024 campaign. Entering Wednesday night’s action, the Blue Jays rank 22nd in the majors in isolated slugging (.125) and 26th in home runs (14).

Toronto is compensating for those numbers slightly by running MLB’s third-best walk rate (11.1 per cent) and eighth-best strikeout rate (20.6 per cent), but the lack of thump is holding down an offence that has scored only 3.83 runs per game.

Every team has its warts, and the Blue Jays were expected to compensate for a relative lack of longballs with excellent pitching and defence in 2024. That’s what they’ve done in recent days, putting together a four-game winning streak in which they’ve conceded just eight runs.

That’s far from a sustainable run-suppression pace, though, and while the defence has generally been sound in 2024, the pitching hasn’t been as reliable. Even after stringing a few strong performances together in a row, Toronto has posted a 23rd-ranked 4.64 ERA — largely due to its MLB-worst 1.55 home runs per nine innings allowed.

Although the Blue Jays running out an offence built on contact and patience was expected, the club’s pitching staff being unable to keep the ball in the ballpark was not. Last season, the team posted a league average HR/9 (1.23) on the way to a strong season of keeping runs off the board.

The purpose of baseball is not to hit more home runs than your opponent, but it helps a great deal. Since the current post-season format was instituted in 2022, just 29.2 per cent of playoff teams were out-homered during the regular season. That includes the 2023 Blue Jays, but their home run differential (-10) was less damaging than what they have managed in just 18 games this season (-13).

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Put another way, the Blue Jays are on pace to have their opponents hit 117 more home runs than they do. In the last two years, a playoff team’s worst number was minus-45 (Cleveland Guardians, 2022)

Any “on-pace-for” number can end up looking silly at this time of year, but this looks like a sizable issue for the Blue Jays. It will be tough to reach the post-season if their opponents have far more quick-strike offensive success than they do — and if they make it that far, home runs correlate with success in October as it’s hard to execute methodical offensive rallies against elite pitching.

On the offensive side, there are a few opportunities for positive regression. The return of Danny Jansen — whose .493 SLG leads all Blue Jays since the beginning of the 2022 season — should be a great help. Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. project to hit home runs at a higher rate than they have, while Davis Schneider could help if he carves out more time.

At the same time, there’s plenty of personnel limitations. The second- and third-base smorgasbord featuring Cavan Biggio, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ernie Clement is low on pop. Justin Turner has been the least of Toronto’s problems overall, but there isn’t a single FanGraphs projection system that has him going over 16 home runs.

Kevin Kiermaier was aiming for more power in the spring, but the results have not carried over. George Springer seems to be focusing more and more on contact rather than power as each year passes.

Toronto’s best path to avoid getting routed in the home run battle is sorting things out from a pitching standpoint. Part of the issue the club has dealt with so far is a need to use pitchers it would prefer not to under different circumstances due to early-season injuries.

For instance, Bowden Francis, Wes Parsons and Paolo Espino gave up a combined eight home runs in 20.1 innings. Francis will have some role to play in the months to come, but it’s likely to be in relief, where he should have better results than he did as a starter. Parsons has been traded, and Espino is not an arm the Blue Jays will call on if their staff is healthy.

Add in the fact Toronto has allowed the highest percentage of home runs on flyballs in the majors this season (16.8 per cent), and it feels safe to assume there’s been some bad luck too. For context, the next-highest HR/FB in the majors is the Minnesota Twins, at 14.9 per cent, and no team cleared 15 per cent in 2023.

There’s no guarantee the Blue Jays’ home-run avoidance will bounce back, but it seems like a solid bet — particularly if Kevin Gausman can get on track and they get some respectable production from the fifth-starter spot. Between Toronto’s durable veteran starters and relatively deep bullpen, the team is unlikely to remain in a position where its outfielders are constantly watching the ball clear the wall.

This Blue Jays team needs that to be the case, because its offence is short on reliable power sources.

Winning at the major-league level is not all about out-slugging your opposition, but if you are losing the home run battle by a massive margin, you’re in for an uphill battle. This team has turned that difficult situation into a 10-8 record, but its minus-15 run differential tells the story of a club that hasn’t found its formula for success yet.

That blueprint won’t boil down to one individual thing, but if the Blue Jays can’t get their home run deficit under control, a single factor could sink them.

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Masai Ujiri praises Vince Carter’s impact, keeps plans to honour him next season a secret

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 11:11

The Toronto Raptors organization has been one of the most tight-lipped franchises, opting to stay away from spreading rumours or divulging information to insiders.

That secretive trait usually is mostly put to use when it comes to trades or free agency decisions hitting the rumours mill.

However, on Wednesday, the team opted for a taciturn approach to something a little different, choosing to stay quiet on how they intend to honour imminent Hall-of-Famer and franchise icon Vince Carter.

At Masai Ujiri’s end-of-year press conference, he was asked about whether the team has plans to pay tribute to Carter, arguably the franchise’s first superstar.

“It’s a secret,” the Raptors’ president said through a sly smile and a slight laugh.

Carter is set to be inducted as part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s class of 2024, headlining a list featuring players like Chauncey Billups and Seimone Augustus.

His induction has reignited discourse about his impact on not only the Raptors but on Canadian basketball as a whole, with the high-flying superstar taking the game to new heights in the country.

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However, it wasn’t without its own set of controversies, as Carter’s departure from the team ignited a polarizing debate around whether or not he should be honoured by the city.

Ujri chose to look more at the bright side of Carter’s tenure ahead of the Hall of Fame ceremony later this year.

“Love him, he’s the best,” Ujri said on Wednesday. “Everything, just like we’re going through here, has ups and downs. … I think what Vince has done as a player, not only the length of his career but how he’s carried himself, maturity.

“I didn’t know too much about what went on here, but I know everybody is moving on and I hope the fans can and we can embrace an unbelievable player that really set a tone and set a pathway for all of us to be where we are today.”

Many have speculated as to the ways Carter could be honoured by the team, including whether he could be the first number hanging in the rafters or if he deserves a statue outside Scotiabank Arena. None of that information came to light on Wednesday, but it seems something is brewing potentially for next season.

When Carter showed up in Toronto near the end of his career, what once were boos became cheers, jerseys with his name and number defaced were repaired and worn with honour, and short “thank you” video tributes turned into long ceremonies for a legacy everlasting in the city.

What his next reception in Toronto could entail is still under wraps, but it seems clear that Ujiri thinks the city should be ready for it once and for all.

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Skip Brad Jacobs parts ways with Winnipeg’s Team Carruthers

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 10:33

Skip Brad Jacobs is leaving Team Carruthers, the Winnipeg-based club announced Wednesday.

Third Reid Carruthers, second Derek Samagalski, lead Connor Njegovan and coach Rob Meakin are now exploring their options moving forward.

“It is with mixed emotions that I’ve decided to part ways with Reid, Derek, Connor and Rob,” Jacobs said in a release. “It is never easy nor enjoyable to make these tough decisions. They welcomed me with open arms, treated me like family, were incredible teammates and friends. I truly cherished my time with all of them and will leave with so many fond memories of our time together.”

He added: “I have nothing but admiration and respect for these guys and wish them all the best in the future.”

The news comes a day after third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert announced they were splitting with skip Brendan Bottcher as the top Canadian men’s curling teams have kicked off a lineup change frenzy.

Jacobs joined the group as a mid-season replacement last year for Grand Slam of Curling events after the departure of third Jason Gunnlaugson. He became a permanent member of the team this season and switched spots in the lineup with Carruthers ahead of the Grand Slam’s Masters event in December. The lineup shuffle clicked instantly, as they qualified for the playoffs in the Masters.

Team Carruthers won Manitoba’s Viterra Championship to represent the province at the Montana’s Brier in February, where they topped their round-robin pool with a 7-1 record to reach the championship round. Carruthers was eliminated after losing back-to-back playoff games to Canada’s Brad Gushue and Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone.

The No. 11-ranked team in the world wrapped up its season this past weekend at the Princess Auto Players’ Championship in Toronto and missed the playoffs with a 2-3 record.

“Brad was a huge part in our team’s success. including representing Manitoba at the 2024 Brier, “Team Carruthers said in the post, “and we wish him all the best in the future.”

Jacobs, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., won the 2014 Olympic gold medal, 2013 world silver medal and Brier championship plus seven Grand Slam of Curling titles as a skip before linking up with Team Carruthers.

Carruthers has captured one Grand Slam of Curling title as a skip, winning the inaugural Champions Cup in 2016. He also won world and Brier championships in 2011, plus the Grand Slam of Curling’s National title in 2013 while playing for skip Jeff Stoughton.

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Raptors’ Jontay Porter banned from NBA after betting investigation

SportsNets - Wed, 04/17/2024 - 10:22

Editor’s Note: Gambling problems aren’t only about losing money. They occur on a continuum, and can affect a person’s whole life. To learn more about developing a healthy relationship to gambling, and to find resources for support, click here.

Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter was banned for life from the NBA on Wednesday after a league probe found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, even betting on the Raptors to lose.

Porter is the second person to be banned by Commissioner Adam Silver for violating league rules. The other was now-former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in 2014, shortly after Silver took office.

In making the announcement, Silver called Porter’s actions “blatant.”

“There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams, and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment,” Silver said.

The investigation started once the league learned from “licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets” about unusual gambling patterns surrounding Porter’s performance in a game on March 20 against Sacramento. The league determined that Porter gave a bettor information about his own health status prior to that game and said that another individual — known to be an NBA bettor — placed an $80,000 bet that Porter would not hit the numbers set for him in parlays through an online sports book. That bet would have won $1.1 million.

Porter took himself out of that game after less than three minutes, claiming illness, none of his stats meeting the totals set in the parlay. The $80,000 bet was frozen and not paid out, the league said, and the NBA started an investigation not long afterward.

“You don’t want this for the kid, you don’t want this for our team and we don’t want this for our league, that’s for sure,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri said Wednesday in Toronto, speaking shortly before the NBA announced Porter’s ban. “My first reaction is obviously surprise, because none of us, I don’t think anybody, saw this coming.”

Later, after the NBA revealed the ban, the Raptors said they were “fully supportive of the league’s decision to ban Jontay Porter from the NBA and are grateful for the swift resolution to this investigation. We will continue to cooperate with all ongoing inquiries.”

The league has partnerships and other relationships with more than two dozen gaming companies, many of whom advertise during NBA games in a variety of ways. Silver himself has been a longtime proponent of legal sports wagering, but the league has very strict rules for players and employees regarding betting.

What Porter was found to have done was in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which states: “Any Player who, directly or indirectly, wagers money or anything of value on any game or event in the Association or in the NBA G League shall, on being charged with such wagering, be given an opportunity to answer such charges after due notice, and the decision of the Commissioner shall be final, binding, and conclusive and unappealable.”

Silver cautioned last week that this move was possible, saying what Porter was accused of represented “cardinal sin” in the NBA. Porter has not commented since the investigation began, and never played for the Raptors again — he was listed as out for all of Toronto’s games for the remainder of the season citing personal reasons.

The league also determined that Porter — the brother of Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. — placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using someone else’s betting account. The bets ranged from $15 to $22,000; the total wagered was $54,094 and generated a payout of $76,059, or net winnings of $21,965.

Those wagers did not involve any game in which Porter played, the NBA said. But three of the wagers were multi-game parlays, including a bet where Porter — who was not playing in the games involved — wagered on the Raptors to lose. All three of those bets lost.

“While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players,” Silver said. “Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”

Porter was on what is called a two-way contract, meaning he could play for both the Raptors and their affiliate in the G League. His salary for this year was around $410,000; had the Raptors signed him to a standard NBA contract next season, as seemed possible, his salary would have exceeded $2 million.

The 24-year-old Porter averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26 games, including five starts. He also played in 11 games for Memphis in the 2020-21 season.

ESPN first reported the investigation, which it said surrounded Porter’s performance in games on Jan. 26 and March 20. In both games, Porter played briefly before leaving citing injury or illness. Porter played 4 minutes, 24 seconds against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first of those games, then 2:43 against Sacramento in the second game.

In both of those games, Porter did not come close to hitting the prop-wager lines for points, rebounds, and three-pointers that bettors could play at some sportsbooks. For example, one set of prop wagers for Porter for the Clippers game was set at 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists; he finished with no points, three rebounds and one assist. For the Kings game, they were around 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds; Porter finished that game with no points and two rebounds.

The league said its probe “remains open and may result in further findings,” and that those findings are being shared with federal prosecutors.

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