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Nick Ritchie in Toronto

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Well - Dubas' new additions (Kampf, Ritchie, Bunting, Kase) to the team add up to:

52gp 5g 5a -18 22PIM

82 game pace: 8g 8a 16 points -28 35PIM
Salary: 6.2m

Basically they add up to a really terrible player that pretty much costs William Nylander.

(obviously this data is flawed in a million ways but it is fun - also if you remove Bunting it gets hilarious)
 
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seanlinden said:
Have to agree with this... I also believe it's not being helped by Toronto's approach to the powerplay.

For years, our #1 powerplay has been the same group -- Marner, Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, and Rielly. Yes, occasionally sub out 1 piece at a time, but all this time, they've never really been good, and certainly not what one would expect out of a $45.6m powerplay....

I also believe that this approach contributes to the problematic "2 classes" of the Leafs roster -- where it's not a "next man up" approach -- everyone else just kind of relies on the big guns to win a game.

Personally, I'd much rather see them spread the wealth. Matthews was incredibly dangerous a few years ago when he was on PP2... do something like this:

PP1 - Marner, Tavares, Ritchie, Rielly, Muzzin -- focus the play from up top -- use Muzzin's shot with Ritchie causing grief infront of the net, and Tavares in the high slot.
PP2 - Matthews, Nylander, Bunting, Spezza, Sandin -- let Bunting crash the crease, do some dirty work, and keep the goalie guessing as Nylander, Matthews, and Spezza are all threats to score from distance.
Click to expand...

There are a lot of different ways to do it, depending on where you want to place guys on the ice.

Sandin with Marner.

Rielly with Spezza.

Bumper will be Tavares and either Bunting or Engvall (if Bunting is net front).

Net front will be Ritchie and Bunting or Simmonds (if Bunting is a bumper).

LW will be Matthews and Nylander.

Matthews and Tavares likely end up on the Rielly unit, while Bunting and Nylander are on the Sandin unit. Simmonds and Ritchie are practically interchangeable so it mostly comes down to which unit should have a RH or a LH net front guy. I personally would just take Engvall off of the PP, and he may not even be in the lineup once Mikheyev is back.

If you want to split but still keep guys in similar roles to what they have right now, that is what you are looking at. You can always throw it in the blender entirely.
 
Christ said:
Richie has fit this description long before Dubas got involved...
Click to expand...
Dubas might know high end talent but his downfall is putting together a bottom 6
But we ll have years to listen to him on NHL radio like we do for stellick when he's shitcanned forever
 
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makbeer said:
Well - Dubas' new additions (Kampf, Ritchie, Bunting, Kase) to the team add up to:

52gp 5g 5a 10 points & -18 22PIM

82 game pace: 8g 8a 16 points -28 35PIM
Salary: 6.2m

Basically they add up to a really terrible player that pretty much costs William Nylander.

(obviously this data is flawed in a million ways but it is fun - also if you remove Bunting it gets hilarious)
Click to expand...

Nick Ritchie (@ $2.5 mil) was brought in to replace Zach Hyman (@ $2.25 mil) out at his old price point, and play in the top likely beside Matthews were he started the year.

However all 4 of those new additions at forward above (including Ritchie) for $6.2 mil Cap produce at the same rate as 1 X Zach Hyman .. 11 games 7 goals 3 assists 10 points for (@ $5.5 mil) new price point, at this point in time.

Leafs GM essentially believed in quantity of new additions to replace quality to address Leafs supporting cast and provide better secondary scoring around the core 4, however they're struggling just to replace Hyman. He could just re-signed Hyman and added Bunting @$ 950k for about the same cap as the new 4 combined and left unqualified RFAs Ritchie, Kampf and Kase for someone else .

Dubas was likely betting on Ritchie to meet and exceed his last year #'s of 56 games 15 goals 11 assists 26 points [= 82 games 22 goals 16 assists 38 points] when playing on a line with 2 of his core 4 forwards at any time to prop up his stats. Now he is already a 4th line hoping Spezza and Simmonds elevate him statistically.
 
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Mess said:
Nick Ritchie (@ $2.5 mil) was brought in to replace Zach Hyman (@ $2.25 mil) out at his old price point, and play in the top likely beside Matthews were he started the year.

However all 4 of those new additions at forward above (including Ritchie) for $6.2 mil Cap produce at the same rate as 1 X Zach Hyman .. 11 games 7 goals 3 assists 10 points for (@ $5.5 mil) new price point, at this point in time.

Leafs GM essentially believed in quantity of new additions to replace quality to address Leafs supporting cast and provide better secondary scoring around the core 4, however they're struggling just to replace Hyman. He could just re-signed Hyman and added Bunting @$ 950k for about the same cap as the new 4 combined and left unqualified RFAs Ritchie, Kampf and Kase for someone else .

Dubas was likely betting on Ritchie to meet and exceed his last year #'s of 56 games 15 goals 11 assists 26 points [= 82 games 22 goals 16 assists 38 points] when playing on a line with 2 of his core 4 forwards at any time to prop up his stats. Now he is already a 4th line hoping Spezza and Simmonds elevate him statistically.
Click to expand...

I think he re-watched moneyball before the offseason
 
Ritchie has enough of a resume he isnt a mystery if he is used properly. That's not on Dubas that's on Keefe. While I have little faith in Keefe he has a long time to sort things out and to get some real value out of the player.

Remember SK is still learning what all the buttons do so give give him some time. The pp.will always be a mystery of course but that doesnt mean he cant solve the Ritchie puzzle. Too early to be stressing out.
 
The guy has to find a mean streak. Please (and Bruin fans warned us about the bad penalties)
 
hullsy47 said:
Dubas might know high end talent but his downfall is putting together a bottom 6
But we ll have years to listen to him on NHL radio like we do for stellick when he's shitcanned forever
Click to expand...
His downfall is negotiating with high-end talent, which then impacts his ability to construct a bottom-6.
 
SeaOfBlue said:
Nick Ritchie in the first 13 games: 14 SOG.

Nick Ritchie against Philly: 7 SOG.

Looks like he took that shooting training to heart. If I am Keefe, I am pulling him aside and telling him to keep that up, and things will start falling in line for him. Maybe give him another game in the top 6 too.
Click to expand...

I'd have no issue giving him at least a few more shifts in the top six. Guy just needs a lucky bounce
 
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TeddyBare said:
Wowza
I didn’t realize even his underlying numbers were far and away the worst on this team by a significant margin. Fits with the eye test as well.
Click to expand...
It’s kinda funny how often this is the case when you know what to actually look for in good/bad play.
 
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