#cp_urgency_2

#cp_urgency_2

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The Toronto Raptors have selected Gradey Dick of Kansas with the 13th overall pick in the NBA draft on Thursday.The six-foot-eight, 205-pound guard averaged 14.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in his lone season with the Jayhawks.He also shot 40.3 per cent from three-point range, a sore spot for the Raptors in 2022-2023.

TORONTO - Shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. will opt into the final year of his contract with the Toronto Raptors, the team confirmed on Tuesday.Trent's player option for the 2023-24 season is worth US$18.5-million.Reports say the guard and the Raptors are working on an extension.The 24-year-old Trent averaged 17.4 points a game and shot 36.9 per cent from three-point range in 2022-23.

TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors have some considerations in mind for Thursday night's draft.Toronto has just one pick, sitting on the back end of the lottery at 13th overall in the first round.But with a number of unknowns surrounding the roster as free agency approaches, assistant general manager and VP of player personnel Dan Tolzman said the team is looking at different options, including moving up.

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is set to become a free agent this summer.General manager Bobby Webster confirmed Tuesday that the 29-year-old declined his US$22.8 million player option for next season.ESPN first reported the news Monday.The option year was slated to be the last of a four-year, $85 million contract he signed in 2020.

TORONTO - Brad Treliving has made his first move as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, adding former Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan to his front office.The Maple Leafs announced that Doan will join the Original Six club as a special adviser to the general manager."The Maple Leafs have a such deep history and a passionate fan base, and I'm excited to contribute in any way I can in the organization's pursuit of their ultimate goal," Doan said in a release.

TORONTO - Kyle Dubas is taking the high road.The former Maple Leafs general manager - fired last week to end a stunning five-day stretch in the wake of Toronto's second-round playoff exit - released a statement Tuesday on Twitter, but didn't get into specifics regarding his dismissal.Dubas, who began his rebuttal with an "onward" caption, was abruptly handed his walking papers Friday to cap a tumultuous period that began with a bizarre end-of-season press conference where the 37-year-old executive questioned if he wanted to continue in the role.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans hope to have an impact on Friday as the team fights for its playoff survival once again.Toronto is set to host Game 5 of its second-round series against the Florida Panthers.Florida holds a 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven matchup after falling to the Leafs 2-1 at home on Wednesday.

SUNRISE, Fla. - Mitch Marner has repeatedly pointed out how little attention he pays to anything that doesn't emanate from inside the Maple Leafs' orbit.The winger insists he stays off social media and doesn't read or watch what's being written or said.With the pressure mounting, the fan base in a hockey-mad city panicking, and his team facing elimination down 3-0 in their second-round playoff series with the Florida Panthers, that tune hasn't changed.

After dropping a third straight game to Boston in the 2010 NHL playoffs, Daniel Briere remembers his Philadelphia teammates sitting in the locker room wondering how they were suddenly on the verge of elimination.Despite the 0-3 deficit, the Flyers still felt they were the better team, he said.Philadelphia then went out and proved it, reeling off four straight wins to reach the third round.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Ilya Samsonov could still play a role with his team on the brink of elimination.The Maple Leafs goaltender left Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of their second-round series with an undisclosed injury after being accidentally taken out by teammate Luke Schenn.

TORONTO - The Maple Leafs are quickly learning the same hard lesson taught to the Presidents' Trophy winners.Matthew Tkachuk is a problem.The Florida Panthers winger - a mix of speed, skill, tenacity and grit that makes him unicorn by today's NHL standards - was a massive factor in his team's stunning upset of the record-setting Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs.

TORONTO - Sergei Bobrovsky made 34 saves and Matthew Tkachuk had three assists as the Florida Panthers survived a blown 2-0 lead to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Tuesday in Game 1 of their best-of-seven second-round playoff series.Sam Bennett, with a goal and an assist, Carter Verhaeghe, Nick Cousins and Brandon Montour provided the rest of the offence for Florida, which roared back from a 3-1 deficit to stun the record-setting Boston Bruins with three straight victories and take that first-round matchup in seven games.

TORONTO - The Presidents' Trophy winners are out.The reigning Stanley Cup champions have gone home too.The NHL post-season has taken some unexpected turns ahead of the second round and for the first time in nearly two decades, the Maple Leafs are still in the thick of things.Not only that, some sportsbooks have actually made Toronto the new favourite to hoist the Cup later this spring for the first time since 1967.

TAMPA, Fla. - Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe is keeping any potential lineup changes ahead of tonight's Game 6 between Toronto and the Tampa Bay Lightning close to his vest.Keefe declined to take questions on his roster following the team's optional morning skate at Amalie Arena, citing some injury-related question marks.

TORONTO - Michael Eyssimont had a goal and an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Thursday to force Game 6 in their first-round playoff series.Anthony Cirelli, with a goal and an assist, Nick Paul and Alex Killorn, into an empty net, also scored for Tampa.Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves.

TORONTO - The opportunity at hand is not lost on Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares.And he says it's a great one for his team to rise to.Toronto holds a 3-1 lead in its first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning heading into Game 5 on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena.The Maple Leafs have not won a playoff series since 2004 and are 2-17 over their last 19 post-season contests when leading a series.

TORONTO - Scottie Barnes had a double-double, including a career-high for assists, as the Toronto Raptors earned a 106-92 win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday.Barnes had 22 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds as Toronto (38-38) won its third-straight game.Pascal Siakam just missed out on a double-double of his own with 26 points and nine rebounds.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.(AP) - John Tavares scored two goals and added an assist, Joseph Woll made 22 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Sunday night.Alexander Kerfoot also scored for Toronto, which has won two of its last three.The Maple Leafs are seven points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for second place in the Atlantic Division with Toronto having one game in hand.

TORONTO - O.G. Anunoby scored a game-high 29 points, Fred VanVleet added 28 and the Toronto Raptors pulled out a 114-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday.Anunoby scored 18 of his points in the first quarter, setting a new career-high for points in a single frame.Pascal Siakam had 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jakob Poeltl contributed a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double for Toronto (37-38).

RALEIGH, N.C.(AP) - Sebastian Aho scored his team-leading 32nd goal of the season with 2:26 remaining to rescue the Carolina Hurricanes in a 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.Aho's goal came 32 seconds after Auston Matthews' second goal for Toronto tied the game.Teuvo Teravainen added an empty-net goal.

TORONTO - Pascal Siakam had a game-high 32 points and nine assists and the Toronto Raptors dominated the Detroit Pistons en route to a 118-97 win on Friday night.Chris Boucher added 19 points and 13 rebounds off the bench and Fred VanVleet poured in 18 points for Toronto (36-38), which ended its two-game skid.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) - Brothers Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers declined to wear special Pride-themed warmup jerseys ahead of the team's 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.The jerseys were part of Florida's Pride night game in support of the area's LGBTQ community, and the brothers cited their religion as the reason for their decision.

TORONTO - Even though Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet each had a double-double the Toronto Raptors came out flat against a conference rival.Siakam led all scorers with 31 points and added 10 rebounds as the undermanned Raptors fell to the Indiana Pacers 118-114 on Wednesday.VanVleet scored 28 and dished out 11 assists but was still critical of Toronto's performance.

TORONTO - Fred VanVleet scored 28 to power the Raptors past the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-107 on Saturday for Toronto's third-straight win.Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl each had a double-double for the Raptors (35-36), who wore their black and gold OVO jerseys to match the Scotiabank Arena court.Siakam scored 27, pulled down 10 rebounds and added six assists.

TORONTO - Nathan MacKinnon scored the only goal of the shootout as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Wednesday night.Mikko Rantanen scored in regulation for Colorado (38-22-6), which got 18 saves from Alexandar Georgiev.Morgan Rielly replied for Toronto (40-18-9).Ilya Samsonov stopped 28 shots.

TORONTO - Fred VanVleet's 36-point performance powered the Toronto Raptors past the Denver Nuggets 125-110 on Tuesday.VanVleet also had seven assists and three steals as Toronto (33-36) snapped a three-game losing skid.O.G. Anunoby's smothering defence and 24 points helped the Raptors gain a measure of revenge following a controversial ending to a 118-113 loss in Denver on March 6.

TORONTO - The Toronto Raptors almost suffered another late-game collapse.But this time, they weathered the storm.Fred VanVleet had a game-high 35 points and eight assists as the Toronto Raptors survived a late comeback effort from Detroit to take a 119-118 victory over the Pistons on Sunday.Detroit outscored Toronto 23-11 in the final 3:27 of the game after being down 13.
"I thought we hung tough.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - D'Angelo Russell had 28 points and nine assists in his dynamic return from a six-game injury absence, Dennis Schröder added 23 points and seven assists and the Los Angeles Lakers won for the seventh time in nine games, 122-112 over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.Austin Reaves scored 18 points while Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt added 16 apiece as the Lakers extended their impressive recent surge even with little contribution this time from Anthony Davis.

TORONTO - Auston Matthews is ready to get back into action.The Maple Leafs star told reporters following Tuesday's practice he's aiming to return to the lineup when Toronto hosts the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.Matthews has been sidelined since suffering a sprained knee in warm-ups Jan. 25.The 25-year-old centre, who won last season's Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and put up the league's first 60-goal season in a decade, initially played through the injury, but got it checked out by Toronto's medical staff post-game.

TORONTO - Sheldon Keefe has asked his players to take more ownership in key moments.Auston Matthews - back in the Maple Leafs' lineup following an injury absence - and William Nylander took their head coach's words to heart early on Wednesday.Nine seconds later, Toronto was ahead."You watch any experienced and championship-calibre team, their people are taking charge of different situations," Keefe said.

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired forwards Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari in a three-team trade, the club announced Friday night.Toronto sent forwards Mikhail Abramov and Adam Gaudette along with a 2023 first-round draft pick, Ottawa's 2023 third-round selection and the Leafs' 2024 second-round choice to St. Louis.

CHICAGO (AP) - Patrick Kane had his ninth career regular-season hat trick, rookie Cole Guttman scored the game-winner and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 Sunday night.Max Domi had a goal and three assists for the Blackhawks, who won their second straight following a three-game losing streak and climbed out of last place in the NHL.

TORONTO - Ryan O'Reilly passed through the locker room's sliding doors and was immediately told he would be heading to a different sheet of ice.After one of the newest Maple Leafs was done with a series of drills alongside William Nylander and Michael Bunting, he joined the larger group on another rink across the hall.