He is fearless .. no one outside Wayner on this team would stand in front of tender to completely block his vision entirely and risk taking a 95 mph Spezz bomb in da face .. but that is what it takes to win .. you must be fearless .. Spezz scored but really it was Ritchie's goal .. everyone knows it .. and he made a couple jaw breaking hits in that game that opened up ice for our skilled players .. Kings just did not want to make da sacrifices necessary to attempt to win .. so is why guys like Ritchie, wayner and Cliffy need to be in lineup all da time .. Wayner has also really increased his speed past couple weeks and was OUR best player last night .. he decided that game when it was still up in da air
Nick Ritchie in Toronto
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The thing about Ho-Sang is that they'd have to terminate his current deal before signing him to a 2-way deal. Under normal circumstances I would have said he made the team out of camp, and certainly by his play with the Marlies. Unfortunately for Josh, this was the situation he put himself in willingly, and full marks to him, he is being the ultimate pro about it and just doing the work. He will be a Leaf at some point IMO, just not sure if it will be this year.
As for Ritchie, I cannot understand how this f***ing guy hasn't scored yet lol. Yesterday he had the biggest case of the yips I've seen him have all year. He must have fumble f***ed 4-5 pucks on his tape where no one was even close to him lol. He must have had a little too much fun on the extra day off. But saying all of that, he still created a ton of offense yesterday, and realistically should have had at least 1 goal. Certainly should have had a point. This is almost a comical level of snake bitten at this point. To the point where the opposition even knows. That Kase and Ritchie 2 on 1 yesterday was hilarious. Obviously the D-man's job is to take away the pass, but Kase was in a completely threatening shooting area, usually the D'man will drop down to either block a pass, toe drag, and potentially a shot... Can't remember what D-man it was, but he legit was stapled to ritchie the entire time. He knew Kase would never shoot in a 6-1 game lol.
I actually feel bad for Ritchie. I think his play has vastly improved to the point where he is actually a valuable asset down the lineup. He lays a hit a game that we just haven't had since like Darcy Tucker. It may not directly result in a goal all the time, but it makes the guys think twice when he's out there.
There is no way this slump will continue if he continues to play the way he is. I was happy Keefe didn't bench him in the 3rd after his dumb penalty. He's done enough lately not to harp on the negatives. He's not dumb, he knows that's not a play you can make in a tight game. If I were Sheldon I would keep telling him to keep doing what he's doing. Even if he ends the year with 0 goals. If he keeps playing the way he has been for the last 10-15 games, he is a value add IMO. Obviously that doesn't mean I believe he is worth 2.5AAV, just means I think he deserves to be in the lineup
Ritchie isn’t bad as long as he’s in the bottom six. Clearly he’s not a top six player. He needs to continue to play physical though in order to be effective.
He's been very good lately IMO. I find his play has been comparable to say Simmonds. Who is playing great IMO. Unfortunately/Fortunately Nick gats paid more than double than Wayne, and the expectations for him were just too lofty when he came here IMO.
But Nick is very effective down the lineup IMO. I know Spezz has one of the more accurate Half claps in the NHL, but it still takes a lot of f***ing balls to stand at the top of the crease while a guy just rips a howwy right at you from 10 feet out. If you disagree, I can only assume you've never played hockey before. Ritchie barely flinched.
He also knocked a player into oblivion in the first period that likely didn't make the highlight pack, but it was thunderous.
I felt so bad for him at the end of the game, I have no clue how he missed that open net after making a really patient move to wait quickie out.
He's gunna break the slump with a 2 goal game, or goals in back to back games. Just generates way too much for this to last.
I mean I've been really happy with Simmer's play all year TBH. He's been so good. Sure I'd like him to throw it around a bit more than he does, but it's also an 82 game season and Wanyer is 33 years old. He knows it's a marathon, not a sprint. I'm not ever going to doubt his willingness to play hard/tough. Just doesn't need to do it every night, and certainly not when he has been playing the way he has been. Can't lay a hit when you play with the puck all the time.
As for the other scarbourough guy, He showed some jam yesterday that got me going a bit. It was a 5-1 game and I think Edler popped him in an accidently on purpose way, and you could tell bunting wanted to rip his head off. Love it.
we got 3 guys that play with jam. Even if one of them takes the night off, we still have 2 others who can throw the body around. Not to mention, I've seen Matthews throwing some bombs lately too. He threw at least 2 solid hits yesterday that just were never in his arsenal in prior years. Only when the Leafs were down by 7 would he throw his weight around. Some will call it a coincidence, but I really don't think so at all. He know's no one is going to touch him with Ritchie, Simmonds and even Bunting and Muzz near by.
Lovin this team right now
Clark4Ever
What we do in hockey echoes in eternity...
Ritchie can't buy a goal right now.
Hopefully he'll pop his cherry as a Leaf soon and then the floodgates will open. He's been getting more than enough chances.
Hopefully he'll pop his cherry as a Leaf soon and then the floodgates will open. He's been getting more than enough chances.
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
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Really thought he was getting one last night.
Gary Nylund
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Duffman955
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I actually think he uses his body well and has decent hands
Makes a lot of good small plays.
Snake bitten right now.
Makes a lot of good small plays.
Snake bitten right now.
kb
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Super Mega
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Ritchie is feeling the pressure, it reminds me of Mitch at the start of the season.
He needs to simplify his game, focus on being physical, not taking dumb penalties and getting in front of the net and creating havoc.
If he's doing that game in game out he belongs, scoring is secondary. Leafs can't wait forever though but I don't see them tanking his value by waiving him. Also not certain he would be claimed
He needs to simplify his game, focus on being physical, not taking dumb penalties and getting in front of the net and creating havoc.
If he's doing that game in game out he belongs, scoring is secondary. Leafs can't wait forever though but I don't see them tanking his value by waiving him. Also not certain he would be claimed
Cecithepylon
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You don't replace 1 of 3 king daddy heavys in league (Chara+Reaves+Ritchie) with anyone else .. players are scared of those 3 .. think of getting hit by a metal hammer straight up in face .. it is bone breaking power
we've won 12 of our last 14 games. Barring injury, there should be no reason to pull big rich out of the lineup
if had had bone crunched alex edler last night he would be my favorite leaf of all time, what a dirty player edler is
He seems to be playing more physical out there... I do think he, like the core early, is feeling the pressure and reacting to it. I like what I see lately, but if it takes significant pressure for him to play well, than I question his value. Easy to see the value of big, skilled forwards though. He has created a lot of space by throwing big checks and nobody messes with him out there even when he's taking an extra wack at the goalie covering a puck.
HamiltonNHL
Resigning Marner == Running it back
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Completely agree.
That puck is easily stopped without a screen.
Enniskillen
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Hopefully Ritchie will be a beast in playoffs…Wait, I forgot his underwhelming play in Boston last year.
He screened at least one other goalie earlier in the year. I remember posting in response to someone who stated Ritchie did nothing. It was either the 1st goal of a game or a game winning goal and I pointed out the goal doesn't happen had Ritchie not screened the goalie.
HamiltonNHL
Resigning Marner == Running it back
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When playoff hockey comes and our fancy players don’t have the same space, their scoring dries up.
Goals from good screens are the type of goals that get you through a series.
fancy lad
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it took him a while to find his place on the team and he's probably still fine tuning things, but there's an obvious role for him on the leafs and he is playing up to the task especially in this recent stretch. As long as he plays physical and does the dirty work, then he'll come good. I like what i have seen from him
He is obviously well liked in the room. Every Leaf on the ice with him was trying their best to set him up. How he didn't score on Kase' setup is beyond me.
Count me all in on Ritchie. I really like his game. He's clearly been snakebit and can't buy a goal but he's well-liked by his teammates, he stands up for the boys and I think he really is going to be one of the biggest x-factors for the Leafs season at some point. His game is a little old school and I think he's stuck playing in the wrong era of hockey but his game is still valuable. All he needs to do is focus on reducing his unnecessary penalties and just focus on his game one shift at a time. If the puck doesn't go in for you that's okay, we have plenty of other guys who can pot it but outside of him and Simmer, we don't really have any big boys who battle along the boards and in front of the net on top of being an absolute menace in scrums and between the whistles.
Once he gets a bit more puck luck and they start going in for him and his confidence takes a few steps forward, he's going to be a lot of fun to watch.
I know Engvall has played steady mellow hockey for the club so far and I honestly wouldn't mind seeing him sit for a game or two eventually to let Clifford into the lineup. I think it would be a lot of fun to have him, Simmer and Ritchie run through some of these grittier western teams.
Ritchie - Kampf - Kase
Cliff - Spezza - Simmonds
Once he gets a bit more puck luck and they start going in for him and his confidence takes a few steps forward, he's going to be a lot of fun to watch.
I know Engvall has played steady mellow hockey for the club so far and I honestly wouldn't mind seeing him sit for a game or two eventually to let Clifford into the lineup. I think it would be a lot of fun to have him, Simmer and Ritchie run through some of these grittier western teams.
Ritchie - Kampf - Kase
Cliff - Spezza - Simmonds
Definitely belongs in the bottom six with this group of players, but I have to wonder with the return of Kyle Clifford, how long will he remain in the lineup?
