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According to insider Elliotte Friedman, despite adding a young player on an amateur tryout, the Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly eyeing center depth during the summer.
The Maple Leafs added a young piece to their organization earlier Thursday, inking prospect defenseman John Prokop to an amateur tryout contract; he'll report to the Toronto Marlies.
In his most recent "32 Thoughts" column, Elliotte Friedman indicated that Toronto general manager Brad Treliving would shop for center depth during the summer.
"John Prokop is a nice bet for Toronto," said Friedman. "The Maple Leafs just traded two first-rounders and two prospects for Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton. You need to fill your prospect pool. They aren't done with free-agent shopping, trying for a centre."
Several players, including Yanni Gourde, Mikael Granlund, Alex Iafallo, Brock Nelson and Ryan Donato, will hit the open market on July 1 and could potentially attract Treliving's interest.
The Leafs will also need to decide on the future of center John Tavares, who is in the last year of the seven-year deal he signed in the summer of 2018.
Several of the players mentioned above aren't likely to command financially crippling salaries in their subsequent contracts and could be enticed to join a Leafs team that has championship aspirations.
Gourde was recently sent back to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, from the Seattle Kraken. Meanwhile, Granlund was recently sent from the lowly San Jose Sharks to the contending Dallas Stars.
Iafallo is with the Winnipeg Jets, while Brock Nelson was recently traded from the New York Islanders to the Colorado Avalanche.
While Donato was included in multiple trade rumors while playing for the struggling Chicago Blackhawks, they ultimately decided to keep him.
The Maple Leafs have had a good season, boasting a 41-24-3 record. They currently sit second in the Atlantic Division, trailing only the Florida Panthers.
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Rumored Targets to Fill 'Marner-Sized Hole' on Maple Leafs’ Roster
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made several moves this offseason, including the high-profile sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. While the team added forwards Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli to help shore up its depth, NHL analyst Shayna Goldman of The Athletic believes the Leafs still have a major issue to address. “There is still a Mitch Marner-sized hole in the top six,” Goldman wrote, noting that while Marner’s playoff production often fell short, his ability to produce 100 points during the regular season hasn’t been replaced. Captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander remain elite offensive weapons, and John Tavares re-signed on a more team-friendly deal, but Tavares is expected to take on a reduced role. Young forward Matthew Knies is developing nicely, but Goldman argues internal improvements alone won’t fill the void left by Marner. “With most top-tier free agents signed and just $2.9 million in cap space remaining, Toronto’s only real path to addressing this gap may come via trade,” she added. Who Might the Maple Leafs Be Targeting? The Maple Leafs have a few options still out there on the trade market. First, they might be eyeing Evan Rodrigues as a potential trade target amid the Florida Panthers’ cap crunch. With Florida $3.7 million over the cap, Rodrigues’ $3 million AAV and playoff pedigree make him an appealing, affordable top-six option to help fill the post-Marner scoring gap. Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report has predicted a major trade deadline move that could see the Leafs landing Anders Lee from the New York Islanders. Lee, 35, is in the final year of his eight-year, $7M AAV deal. While the Islanders insist they aren’t rebuilding, Lee could become a trade chip if they slip from playoff contention. His 29 goals and 25 assists last season should draw interest across the league. With Yegor Chinakhov requesting a trade out of Columbus, the Maple Leafs have emerged as a potential suitor. The skilled winger could help fill Toronto’s top-six void. Nick Robertson may be a trade chip, though his value is uncertain. Chinakhov’s upside and affordable cap hit make him an intriguing target for GM Brad Treliving. According to Nick Kypreos, Nazem Kadri may be willing to help facilitate a move to Toronto if the Calgary Flames are open to a deal. Kadri is a center, but his production certainly would help. Finally, the Maple Leafs may target Penguins winger Rickard Rakell to fill their top-six hole. Rakell, coming off a 35-goal season, fits Toronto’s cap structure and could thrive alongside Matthews or Tavares. However, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas will demand significant value, likely starting with Easton Cowan.
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy
On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.
Fans Erupt As Luka Doncic Shows Off Lean Physique While Nailing A Halfcourt Shot
Los Angeles Lakers fans will be eager to see what Luka Doncic has in store this upcoming season. With an emphasis on getting into shape for the new season, Doncic recently showed off the fruits of his labor. In a recent video, the Lakers superstar can be seen looking significantly leaner. And to add emphasis, the 26-year-old drained a shot from halfcourt, causing fans on social media to go berserk. Doncic is widely considered one of the most gifted basketball players in the NBA. Now that he's in what looks like the best shape of his career, fans couldn’t contain their excitement. With several fans sharing their reactions to the video on X, we take a look at some of their responses. "Tell me he isn’t looking similar to his rookie build. He’s lean as hell now!" commented one fan. "My MVP," added another. Another fan displayed some optimism and claimed, "No worries, those earlier years were just for fun. Now, he’s about to enter his prime. S**t about to get ugly for the league." "Luka's MVP season is coming," said one fan, predicting big things from the Lakers' star. Another fan added to this with, "So I’m placing my bet right now for Luka Doncic MVP." "Holy fawk, we are so back. We are winning MVP this season," boldly stated another fan. "Luka Doncic is in the best shape of his life," claimed another. One fan noted the impact this weight loss could have on his game by saying, "Attack-the-rim Luka bout to make a return this season." A Mavericks fan also commented on this marked change and lamented, "Why couldn't he do this in Dallas?" "That's the next GOAT," claimed another fan, acknowledging his potential for greatness. The expectations of Doncic to dominate next season are immense, especially given the criticism he has faced for his defensive shortcomings in the playoffs. The scrutiny the superstar has faced since donning the Purple and Gold has acted as fuel. His response has been a deepened commitment to the team, reflected in his ongoing conditioning and offseason recruiting efforts. Having played a significant role in bringing Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to the Lakers in free agency, it is abundantly clear that Doncic is invested in the team's future. When also considering that the Lakers are officially on the guard's timeline now, planning their roster construction with upcoming free agency classes in mind, the team and the player appear to be in close collaboration. Doncic is currently gearing up for his activities with the Slovenian national team at the EuroBasket tournament. However, the 26-year-old is expected to return to Los Angeles before joining the national team to sign his contract extension with the Lakers, further cementing his place as the face of the franchise.
Knicks, Warriors Could Make Blockbuster All-Star Trade
The New York Knicks are a team that has been thrown around in trade rumors all offseason long. The Knicks were eliminated in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers and are looking for any way imaginable to get back in the thick of things for next season's playoff run. Sporting News analyst Tyler Rourke suggested a trade that would send Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns to the Golden State Warriors for Jimmy Butler and Quinten Post. "Towns could be holding Jalen Brunson and the rest of the roster back with his high volume of shots, which is why the front office may be willing to deal him to another team — despite just landing him ahead of the 2024-25 season," Rourke wrote. "If that is the case, the Golden State Warriors would be the perfect option, and all it would take is his former teammate, Jimmy Butler and Quinten Post." "The Knicks have built a tough defensive identity with players like Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson. Adding Butler to that group would solidify the best defensive unit in the league." "While Post doesn’t have the name value as Towns, he does have the ability to stretch the floor as a big man and will require less usage." The Knicks have uncertainty with Towns coming up in the final three years of his deal, so getting him out in favor of Butler would give the team more flexibility down the line. That being said, Towns can still be one of the best players in the NBA, especially at the center position. The Knicks made a big trade for Towns less than a year ago, so dealing him would not be something that the team should take lightly.
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