Nick Ritchie in Toronto

[Wafflewhipper]

in under 8 minutes of ice time/game.

Yeah i was going to add that too. He’s a cruncher. We will play games where we need him. I hope he plays good. I hope he can be a defensive spark plug type that plays smart first and all the nasty sh!t just comes pretty natural to him lol

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I didn’t say Hyman will make it. I said I won’t be surprise if Team Canada choose Hyman over JT and MM. the reasons are simple, Team Canada always like to pick duos esp when it comes to their top players, Kuntiz made the team bc of Sid, whose to say they won’t pick Hyman if he clicks with McDavid for the next three months.
Just like if Killorn-Stamkos-Point become a perfection like of sort, I highly doubt Team Canada won’t pick all three despite knowing a few of the guys they are passing are miles better than Killorn.

You absolutely didn’t say he will make team Canada. I hear you on the forchecking winger they usually like
A thread for picking your team Canada would be interesting
McDavid
MacKinnon
Crosby
R O R
Would be our centers right off top of my head. Your turn, fill in the left side or right side

 

[The Iceman]

Yeah i was going to add that too. He’s a cruncher. We will play games where we need him. I hope he plays good. I hope he can be a defensive spark plug type that plays smart first and all the nasty sh!t just comes pretty natural to him lol

I am a dinosaur and I still believe having an aggressive big out there 8 minutes a night throwing their weight around makes a difference. both in the approach of the enemy and the momentum their team.
The game that Sabourin played is my example. Threw a massive hit, had a fight. To me much more valuable than a Vesey, Petan, Barabanov.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Now we just need don cherry

 

[Gabriel426]

You absolutely didn’t say he will make team Canada. I hear you on the forchecking winger they usually like
A thread for picking your team Canada would be interesting
McDavid
MacKinnon
Crosby
R O R
Would be our centers right off top of my head. Your turn, fill in the left side or right side

With ROR, have to be Stone and Courtier.
I would actually move Mack to be the RW of Sid along with Marchand.
Huberdeau will be with McDavid and Stamkos. Stamkos is the closest to Drai on Team Canada.
Bergeron-Toews-Point will be the 4th line.
I really think Team Canada will pick Toews as long as he shows he can play and still be effective.
The last spot will be a fight between JT, Barzal, Marner, Schef, and whoever.
I think like all Team Canada in the past, the last two spots will always be controversial. If they win, nobody will talk about it but if they lose, everyone will be saying they should have pick player X and Y for the last two spots….

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I am a dinosaur and I still believe having an aggressive big out there 8 minutes a night throwing their weight around makes a difference. both in the approach of the enemy and the momentum their team.
The game that Sabourin played is my example. Threw a massive hit, had a fight. To me much more valuable than a Vesey, Petan, Barabanov.

Absolutely agree. As long as they can score 50 goals too . No seriously now, as long as they are good defensively and a few goals here and there is a bonus and the entire team cheers them guys. They are spark plugs. That’s why they call them plugs right

 

[Wafflewhipper]

With ROR, have to be Stone and Courtier.
I would actually move Mack to be the RW of Sid along with Marchand.
Huberdeau will be with McDavid and Stamkos. Stamkos is the closest to Drai on Team Canada.
Bergeron-Toews-Point will be the 4th line.
I really think Team Canada will pick Toews as long as he shows he can play and still be effective.
The last spot will be a fight between JT, Barzal, Marner, Schef, and whoever.
I think like all Team Canada in the past, the last two spots will always be controversial. If they win, nobody will talk about it but if they lose, everyone will be saying they should have pick player X and Y for the last two spots….

Point and Barzal are right shots too. There might be lots of Centers on the team moving around.
Stone
Point
Barzal
Marner is my right side

 

[Gabriel426]

Point and Barzal are right shots too. There might be lots of Centers on the team moving around.
Stone
Point
Barzal
Marner is my right side

I won’t put too much emphasis on right shot and left shot unless they take draws.
Point and Barzal are Right shots. So are Bergeron, Stone, and Mack.
I highly doubt everyone will be all healthy and willing to play in the Olympics by selection times. And I am sure there will be a surprise or two in the beginning of the season, bc some players will get hot in a hurry and force their way into Team Canada.

 

[saltming]

Nylander does all those things (possibly better than Ritchie) and not many consider him to be a physical player.

Agreed but Ritchie is heavier, physically and on the puck.
Willie has way more puck skill and savvy though

 

[saltming]

I always thought when I would hear people say that or post it here that generally it’s code for staged fighting and chasing hits that often put the player out of position.

Ya not what I'm hoping to see out of Ritchie

 

[mapleleaf979]

He could be the biggest steal for the Leafs, his contrast of game style to his line mates puts ingredients into that lines diversity. 2 skilled guys and Ritchie's grit, fighting and Ritchie has skill to clean up.

 

[Gabriel426]

He could be the biggest steal for the Leafs, his contrast of game style to his line mates puts ingredients into that lines diversity. 2 skilled guys and Ritchie's grit, fighting and Ritchie has skill to clean up.

I hope so. He really seems like a good fit with the current core.

 

[The Iceman]

If he gets to play with our stars like Hyman did then all the Hyman fans will see what a difference having actual hands makes. Ritchie could be a great fit on our PP standing in the crease batting in rebounds which Hyman could never do. If he plays on the third line he will suck but so will Hyman.

My best examples of a line makiing a player.
28 year old Warren Young-career minor league guy with size. gets put on a line with 18 year old Mario and scores 40 goals and 174 minutes in penalties. What a superstar.
Detroit signs him as a FA. 4 years $1 million+ back in 1985, massive deal.
Was traded back to Pittsburgh after 1 season for cash considerations.

Kevin Stevens went from scoring 40, 54, 55, 41 goals with Mario to 14, 14, 23 goals without him.

Gretzky propped up Blair MacDonald for 46 goals and 94 points, same with brett Callighen.

Thing is Hyman will again be mega boasted by his line mates. We might never know his true abilities offensively to drive his own line which a player making his $$$ should do.

 

[justloveleafs]

When Shanahan is fired and takes boy with him and this guy is hired...Leafs are kinda done for me..

Hire this guy...

 

[justloveleafs]

Why is that guy not the face of our team....LOL...go speculate... as much you want..

REMARKABLY.... I have never talked once to this guy, or Henderson.... Almost every other nhler, I HAVE..

god indeed, has a cents,lol, sense of humour..

 

[saltming]

When Shanahan is fired and takes boy with him and this guy is hired...Leafs are kinda done for me..

Hire this guy...

Esposito was a gem as a player.
He was known as trader Phil as a gm and I'm not sure if that would be a good thing. Teams need som stability. Aldo I don't think he's worked in a front office for a while but not sure.
I loved the player but not so sure about bringing him here as president or gm.

Ps ya the whole booing your ouw team thing, such a petulant thing to do. It's a crybaby culture for sure

 

[justloveleafs]

Never had the pleasure of rolling with Espo... Not entirely sure, we would get along.. Might differ on a few issues..

But a big fan of his very large accomplishments.. Essentially carrying us to a win in 72,l

Set up the best NHL hockey team of all time.l.

Carrying Boston on his back....

YA, love the guy. but even though we are both ITALIANS...

 

[fahad203]

He could be the biggest steal for the Leafs, his contrast of game style to his line mates puts ingredients into that lines diversity. 2 skilled guys and Ritchie's grit, fighting and Ritchie has skill to clean up.

He's actually not gritty as you think he is. He's very lazy and takes a lot of lazy penalties
Not the most mobile of a player, always seems to be a bit behind the play

 

[Nylander88]

The most physical player in camp will be Kurtis Gabriel. He might make 13 forward and get games if he shows solid defensive play in camp. I’m probably the only leafer that thinks so so i get it if you don’t agree.

I think he was for sure brought in for a reason. Otherwise we likely could have got him on a two-way contract, which we didn't. If he shows up ready in camp, he has a real shot to hang around in that 12/13 F spot

 

[justloveleafs]

I am pretty excited.... I HAVE a very strong feeling,nick ritchie,will finally cure me, of ever following the worst franchise in nhl history, drive auston mathews out of toronto and cause brendan mimico silly plan out of toronto management... IT was ridiculous then, much more so now.

There is no atkins here, no shaaaaaaaa pie ro...

And there is no montoya...

I also want to add, i DON'T THINK the jays will make the playoffs, they have chased for two months, that is at least one month too long.

I have to be right every day, i bet on fools failing every day... seems to be a champagne workplan

 

[BlueForever75]

I am pretty excited.... I HAVE a very strong feeling,nick ritchie,will finally cure me, of ever following the worst franchise in nhl history, drive auston mathews out of toronto and cause brendan mimico silly plan out of toronto management... IT was ridiculous then, much more so now.

There is no atkins here, no shaaaaaaaa pie ro...

And there is no montoya...

I also want to add, i DON'T THINK the jays will make the playoffs, they have chased for two months, that is at least one month too long.

I have to be right every day, i bet on fools failing every day... seems to be a champagne workplan

Ok now go back into hibernation cause you haven't got a clue!!!

 

[123offtheglass]

I am pretty excited.... I HAVE a very strong feeling,nick ritchie,will finally cure me, of ever following the worst franchise in nhl history, drive auston mathews out of toronto and cause brendan mimico silly plan out of toronto management... IT was ridiculous then, much more so now.

There is no atkins here, no shaaaaaaaa pie ro...

And there is no montoya...

I also want to add, i DON'T THINK the jays will make the playoffs, they have chased for two months, that is at least one month too long.

I have to be right every day, i bet on fools failing every day... seems to be a champagne workplan

Two sips and now you wanna trip big fella, you not a drinker

 

[Menzinger]

It's only a matter of time until Spezza is a coach or working in some degree in the front office

 

[Nylander88]

It's only a matter of time until Spezza is a coach or working in some degree in the front office

I think Spezza makes a great point. I love the way he thinks hockey. He's like an extension of the coaching staff onto the ice. Ritchie-Matthews-Marner could make a very solid top line. But Ritchie can also be moved around to set a tone in playoff games if need be. Ritchie and Simmonds could see the odd shift together and it'd be pretty fun to watch.

 

[dubplatepressure]

I think Spezza makes a great point. I love the way he thinks hockey. He's like an extension of the coaching staff onto the ice. Ritchie-Matthews-Marner could make a very solid top line. But Ritchie can also be moved around to set a tone in playoff games if need be. Ritchie and Simmonds could see the odd shift together and it'd be pretty fun to watch.

Hopefully