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

[Gary Nylund]

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.

The bolded is the key. We'll see.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

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.

I haven't checked but evidently a lot of his goals were being a front of the net guy on the PP

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Nylander plays LW much of the time.

Having an aneurysm or something Zeke?

 

[kb]

I haven't checked but evidently a lot of his goals were being a front of the net guy on the PP

Definitely a needed asset. The goalies won't be able to see around him if he's in their line of sight.

 

[Gary Nylund]

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

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


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

Um, 6? Trick question?

 

[A1LeafNation]

Ritchie Matthews Nylander vs. 2nd lines
Bunting Tavares Marner vs. 3rd lines
Robertson Kerfoot Kase/Simmonds vs. 4th lines
Mikheyev Kampf Anderson vs 1st lines
Spezza

Time to stick Anderson with Kampf and learn to be a player with a motor that shuts down top offensive players.

Engvall traded.

 

[Sypher04]

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).





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.

I'm not saying you'll necessarily get equal production from a Hyman replacement, but Matthews and marner have proven they do not need Hyman. They didn't miss a beat with Joe Thornton with them, for example. I think Hymans role is entirely replaceable within that line. You just might see a bit of a production drop from the LW. But willing to bet the marner/Matthews combo or Matthews/Nylander combo continues to be equally effective in Hyman's absense

 

[Mess]

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

Kerfoot now in the wild card depending if they plan on playing him in the top 6 along with Ritchie with the core 4 or if he destined for the 3rd line with Mikheyev and Kampf.

It looks the camp battle will between Bunting and Robertson as to who takes a regular shift on LW.

Ritchie -- Matthews -- Marner
Bunting -- Tavares -- Nylander
Mikheyev -- Kampf -- Kerfoot
Simmonds -- Brooks/Engval -- Spezza.

Extra: Roberson, Kase (LTIR), Gabriel

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Definitely a needed asset. The goalies won't be able to see around him if he's in their line of sight.

Yup exactly. Could be the shakeup the PP has needed

 

[Sypher04]

Kerfoot now in the wild card depending if they plan on playing him in the top 6 along with Ritchie with the core 4 or if he destined for the 3rd line with Mikheyev and Kampf.

It looks the camp battle will between Bunting and Robertson as to who takes a regular shift on LW.

Ritchie -- Matthews -- Marner
Bunting -- Tavares -- Nylander
Mikheyev -- Kampf -- Kerfoot
Simmonds -- Brooks/Engval -- Spezza.

Extra: Roberson, Kase (LTIR), Gabriel

I do not see Kerfoot with Kampf and mikheyev. I think that sounds like an excellent way to neuter his offense and make sure he doesn't provide value on that 3.5 mil contract

 

[ULF_55]

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.

How is the forward group more top heavy?

Top 4 is the same top 4, everyone else is low paid.

 

[96]

Yup exactly. Could be the shakeup the PP has needed

Think we just need soft baby passes Marner off the top unit… literally the whole league knows he’s going to fake a shot and pass to Matthews LOL it’s soooooo embarrassing

 

[fahad203]

Kerfoot now in the wild card depending if they plan on playing him in the top 6 along with Ritchie with the core 4 or if he destined for the 3rd line with Mikheyev and Kampf.

It looks the camp battle will between Bunting and Robertson as to who takes a regular shift on LW.

Ritchie -- Matthews -- Marner
Bunting -- Tavares -- Nylander
Mikheyev -- Kampf -- Kerfoot
Simmonds -- Brooks/Engval -- Spezza.

Extra: Roberson, Kase (LTIR), Gabriel

Poor Tavares. Dude is a perennial star in this league yet somehow he has to play with Simmonds who hasn't scored more than 8 goals in 5 years. Mikahyev who never scores. Gally who forgot to score. Now Bunting a player who couldn't crack Arizona like up

Only time he had a decent line when Hyman was in that line

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Kerfoot now in the wild card depending if they plan on playing him in the top 6 along with Ritchie with the core 4 or if he destined for the 3rd line with Mikheyev and Kampf.

It looks the camp battle will between Bunting and Robertson as to who takes a regular shift on LW.

Ritchie -- Matthews -- Marner
Bunting -- Tavares -- Nylander
Mikheyev -- Kampf -- Kerfoot
Simmonds -- Brooks/Engval -- Spezza.

Extra: Roberson, Kase (LTIR), Gabriel

I don't think Kase was brought here to br an extra

 

[kb]

Poor Tavares. Dude is a perennial star in this league yet somehow he has to play with Simmonds who hasn't scored more than 8 goals in 5 years. Mikahyev who never scores. Gally who forgot to score. Now Bunting a player who couldn't crack Arizona like up

Only time he had a decent line when Hyman was in that line

Remember when Matthews had Johnsson and Kapanen as his 2 wingers that one season?

Yeesh. That was a waste.

 

[Sypher04]

Poor Tavares. Dude is a perennial star in this league yet somehow he has to play with Simmonds who hasn't scored more than 8 goals in 5 years. Mikahyev who never scores. Gally who forgot to score. Now Bunting a player who couldn't crack Arizona like up

Only time he had a decent line when Hyman was in that line

So you're just gonna ignore that he'd either have marner or Nylander on the other side...

 

[Havoc]

We need some of these .

 

[fahad203]

So you're just gonna ignore that he'd either have marner or Nylander on the other side...

Nylander yes. He had marner 2 years ago

Thats not a full line. He hasn't had top 6 wingers both side consistently if not since probably in 2 years

 

[Mess]

Nick Ritchie (56 games 15-11-26 pts) is essentially a poor man's Zach Hyman (43 games 15-18-33 pts), but they both use(d) about the same cap cost $2.25/2.5 mil for the #1LW spot now before and after.

Both create a lot of time and space for their linemates, work the boards and create chaos in front of the net.

 

[Nylander88]

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).





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.

The bottom line is you have to get Ritchie, Bunting, Kase at 4.7m instead of Hyman at 5.5m
Like I said...you have to fill out a team. Is any one of those players better than Hyman alone? I'd agree not. Combined is it more valuable to have those 3 than one Zach Hyman, I'd say yes. But the main thing like I said, is you have to fill out a team. It's like complaining we missed out on Gabriel Landeskog. Is he better than the names above? Yes. Can we afford it? No. We can't afford a 5.5mil puck hound. If you don't like it, send a well written letter to our core 4 explaining your unhappiness lol bottom line is Ritchie, Bunting, Kase bring more value as a whole, at a lower price point. It's not about who is the best individual player in this scenario

 

[The Podium]

I haven't checked but evidently a lot of his goals were being a front of the net guy on the PP

5/15 were on the PP. We needed a net front guy on the PP though so thats not a bad thing.

Kerfoot now in the wild card depending if they plan on playing him in the top 6 along with Ritchie with the core 4 or if he destined for the 3rd line with Mikheyev and Kampf.

It looks the camp battle will between Bunting and Robertson as to who takes a regular shift on LW.

Ritchie -- Matthews -- Marner
Bunting -- Tavares -- Nylander
Mikheyev -- Kampf -- Kerfoot
Simmonds -- Brooks/Engval -- Spezza.

Extra: Roberson, Kase (LTIR), Gabriel

Kase didnt sign to be an extra and definitely wasnt signed to be on the LTIR. That would be a terrible move if so and handcuff this team into being unable to add anyone at the trade deadline.

 

[Nylander88]

Because capfriendly has Kase listed as LW on the Leafs roster page

He's a RW. He shoots right. He's always played right. And he's a RW on every other website lol
Edit: I also just searched Ondrej Kase on capfriendly , and he's listed as a Right Wing.

 

[Mess]

Poor Tavares. Dude is a perennial star in this league yet somehow he has to play with Simmonds who hasn't scored more than 8 goals in 5 years. Mikahyev who never scores. Gally who forgot to score. Now Bunting a player who couldn't crack Arizona like up

Only time he had a decent line when Hyman was in that line

Leafs are likely counting/hoping on Nic Robertson in time develops into that top 6 role to play alongside JT on his LW.

 

[Sypher04]

Nick Ritchie (56 games 15-11-26 pts) is essentially a poor man's Zach Hyman (43 games 15-18-33 pts), but they both use(d) about the same cap cost $2.25/2.5 mil for the #1LW spot now before and after.

Both create a lot of time and space for their linemates, work the boards and create chaos in front of the net.

Not even sure if I'd say poor man's exactly. I think Ritchie is certainly capable of replacing Hyman's offense. He'll just do things a little differently than Hyman did. Having him willing to get a little nasty with people who mess with Matthews certainly cannot hurt either

 

[Nylander88]

I liked Hyman, he got way too much of a pass for his playoff failures though. I know he doesn’t make what Matthews and Marner do, I know he was on a cheap deal but he didn’t take advantage of the extra space they made.

If they double team Matthews you better be able to put the puck in the net.

Agreed. Gonna miss Hyman, but he was simply too expensive for what he is. He was still on the ice doing nothing every time Matthews and Marner were getting facewashed in a scrum. Matthews and Marner can play with anyone. They played with Thornton and made it look respectable. So I'm going to enjoy them having a guy like Ritchie who will stick up for them. You can look in the one scrum and it was actually Matthews helping stick up for Hyman. I think Matty and Mitchy are both sending out texts to Ritchie right now to welcome him into their friendship lol