Confirmed with Link: Nick Ritchie to Toronto (2x2.5M AAV)

[TimeZone]

He hasn't left himself any other options. We're at the point that a player making the NHL average salary is a luxury that we need to make cap room for.

Somewhat true, but we could've easily replaced two of those guys with a legitimate 20-30 goal guy like Saad.

Not a fan of this offseason at all, forward group is way too top heavy, even more so than prior.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Are you sure?

Ondrej Kase Contract, Cap Hit, Salary and Stats - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

They did, they edited it

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Nylander plays LW much of the time.

He's been on RW the vast majority of his career

 

[Mess]

They did, they edited it

Perhaps you were looking at Nick Ritchie who plays LW and shoots Left.

 

[zeke]

He's been on RW the vast majority of his career

Nylander plays LW much of the time.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

How happy is this guy today?

You people lol

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Perhaps you were looking at Nick Ritchie who plays LW and shoots Left.

No I checked both Kase was originally a LW on the Leafs roster page it has since been edited, regardless though they still have the same issue except replace Kase name with Kerfoot, who is better on LW.

In no particular order

Ritchie
Kerfoot
Bunting
Mikyehev
Robertson

 

[Kurtz]

Power Forwards tend to develop later than skill forwards, and until they do folks often call them lazy/unmotivated because of their typically longer/slower stride.

 

[strattonius]

Great deal for Toronto. I think he'll be every bit as good as Hyman.

 

[TimeZone]

Once upon a time, 2 years ago to be exact, Zach Hyman was a 26/27 year old 3rd/4th liner that no one wanted in the top 6 either. We also went into last season with Joe Thornton as our top line LW.

Guys like Bunting, Ritchie and Kase are guys that still have potential and can be that legitimate top 6 guy in the right situation. Its a gamble for sure, but lets not pretend like we have had a legit top 6 LW since JVR.



Mess how many times does it need to be explained to you that this is not how LTIR works... There is no reimbursement, there is no added cap space.

Those people were morons. Hyman was on pace for a 25 goal season two years ago.

For everyone Zach Hyman you come across, you come across 10+ Nic Petans.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Nylander plays LW much of the time.

He's been on RW probably about 85% of his Leafs career

 

[kb]

Bruins fans were saying the major reason Ritchie was not qualified was the fact that he had arbitration rights - and Boston would have been locked into his arb award with Marchand, Hall, and DeBrusk ahead of him.

Makes sense now.

 

[htpwn]

I'll be "that guy" and say I don't like it. While it is possible that Ritchie finds a new gear offensively playing in our top six, he's also almost 26 and by that age, most players are done developing. If he doesn't find a new offensive game, then we've spent our last chunk of cap space (+1 extra year) on another 3rd liner and possibly one that becomes a drag in the top six.

IMHO our top need this off-season, besides a goaltender, was a genuine secondary scoring option to replace Hyman and Dubas didn't get that. So I'm disappointed and not particularly optimistic for September; I hope I'm wrong. (I also predict many who love this signing based on a mistaken caricature of who Ritchie is will start to turn on him by next April. Again, I hope I'm wrong, but there is a reason that neither Bruins nor Ducks fans liked him as a player).

 

[stickty111]

Not a fan of Ritchie but at 2.5 not complaining. The team's middle six/3rd line is much improved then last year. We still need a top 6 forward though.

 

[96]

Let’s GO. First signing of a guy I wanted.

to everyone that has kerfoot in their lineups: are you crazy?

Not a fan of Ritchie but at 2.5 not complaining. The team's middle six/3rd line is much improved then last year. We still need a top 6 forward though.

nylander Tavares Matthews Marner. How many top 6 forwards do you need? We didn’t win shit with 5 last season including Hyman………

 

[kb]

I'll be "that guy" and say I don't like it. While it is possible that Ritchie finds a new gear offensively playing in our top six, he's also almost 26 and by that age, most players are done developing. If he doesn't find a new offensive game, then we've spent our last chunk of cap space (+1 extra year) on another 3rd liner and possibly one that becomes a drag in the top six. IMHO our top need this off-season besides a goaltender was a genuine secondary scoring option to replace Hyman and Dubas didn't get that. So I'm disappointed and not particularly optimistic for September; I hope I'm wrong. (I also predict many who love this signing based on a mistaken caricature of who Ritchie is, will start to turn on him by next April. Again, I hope I'm wrong, but there is a reason that neither Bruins nor Ducks fans liked him as a player).

He was on a 22G pace last season while not playing top-6 minutes.

I think he has a real shot in the top-6 if he will embrace the Hyman role.

 

[stickty111]

Solid signing. Think he probably starts in the top six maybe the Matthews line, but hard to say at this point.

Another forward is definitely getting traded though. Almost wonder if the Leafs offer Kerfoot+ and try and bring in a bigger piece for the top six.

Only thing missing.

 

[zeke]

He's been on RW probably about 85% of his Leafs career

Nylander plays LW much of the time.

 

[Sypher04]

I'll be "that guy" and say I don't like it. While it is possible that Ritchie finds a new gear offensively playing in our top six, he's also almost 26 and by that age, most players are done developing. If he doesn't find a new offensive game, then we've spent our last chunk of cap space (+1 extra year) on another 3rd liner and possibly one that becomes a drag in the top six.

IMHO our top need this off-season, besides a goaltender, was a genuine secondary scoring option to replace Hyman and Dubas didn't get that. So I'm disappointed and not particularly optimistic for September; I hope I'm wrong. (I also predict many who love this signing based on a mistaken caricature of who Ritchie is will start to turn on him by next April. Again, I hope I'm wrong, but there is a reason that neither Bruins nor Ducks fans liked him as a player).

The way I see it, Dubas and company, made the assessment that our top 4 forwards don't just need more scorers necessarily but guys who bring other elements and can contribute. I think that's a good bet. You could blow 4+ mil on one scoring forward that you legitimately see as a top 6 guy, or you use your cap to strengthen around the roster. While perhaps Hyman today is better than any one person we added the last few days, I think the sum of the parts is potentially better.

 

[zeke]

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

We found our zach Hyman replacement on the first line and 5 years younger

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

For all the flack some people are giving Ritchie. Taylor hall had one more point in the playoffs then him.

 

[Gary Nylund]

The thing is Hyman's role on the top line is entirely replaceable. He's not the one who drives play on that line.

I'll take Ritchie, Kampf, Kase and Bunting over Hyman for just a couple hundred thousand more.

Hyman isn't that easily replaced IMO. He was almost always then first one in after a loose puck and came up with it more often than not. You could play him anywhere in the lineup and he fit in, he always played hard and produced at a much better rate than people realize (no PP time).

Because we still have to fill out a roster.
Ritchie
Bunting
Kase
4.7m

Hyman
5.5m

Personally like the direction we went better tbh.

Ritchie, Bunting, Kampf, Kase fill out the roster more effectively than currently depth players. It also allows for the Leafs to use Kerfoot more effectively in a LW position.

Anyone playing with Matthew’s/Marner is going put numbers. Hyman is a good player, but we’re not paying him 5.5M in any reality of having salary cap.

Last season, Hyman was clearly a top 5 forward for us, then we had Kerfoot and then a big gap until whoever you say is our 7th best forward. Now Kerfoot moves up to being our 5th best forward and I guess Ritchie takes his place in the top 6. Hyman is much better than Ritchie so our top 6 is clearly worse. Are these other spare parts really that much better that it makes up for that and then some?

I don't see that we're a better team now, that's all I'm saying. Maybe the pieces fit together better, maybe they don't. We won't know that until the playoffs next season (assuming we make it that far) but as of right now, I'm not seeing it.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Nylander plays LW much of the time.

Not true he played a little bit this season but that's it

 

[BertCorbeau]

Power forwards can take time to develop .. it would be awesome if he took that step forward to become a top 6 player .. but he should make some impact on the third line at the very least.