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

[ShaneFalco]

Cool, and we’re now seeing 5 years of soft skill and speed getting out worked, out willed, and out hit.

It’s almost like there is some kind of balance that can be achieved by having a dynamic of different skill-sets.

This

 

[ShaneFalco]

I agree. Ritchie offers a bit of protection for Tavares which I want especially early in the season, the hit he took was frightening, but more because he plays at a similar speed. I like Marner there more than Nylander because Marner is capable of playing at any speed, whereas Nylander's game is more north/south. Heaviness/Tenacity Skill/Creativity...could be a very good line.

Yeah way too often JT would get crossed checked multiple times in a shift and no response

 

[zeke]

Do you have any stats to share this info? I have a habs buddy who keeps saying leafs bottom 6 are horrible.

Last year bottom 6 forward points paces:

Drouin 43 ------------ Spezza 46
Perry 35 -------------- Thornton 37
Kotkaniemi 29 ----- Kerfoot 34

Byron 29 ------------- Mikheyev 26
Armia 28 ------------- Engvall 23
Lehkonen 23 ------- Simmonds 19
Evans 23 ------------- Brooks 37


Playoffs

Perry 37 ----------- Kerfoot 70
Kotkaniemi 35 -- Spezza 59
Armia 31 ------- Galchenyuk 55

Staal 31 --------- Engvall 14
Evans 23 ------- Thornton 12
Byron 22 ------- Simmonds 12
Lehkonen 19 - Mikheyev 0
Tatar 16 -------- Nash 0

 

[Dreakmur]

Last year bottom 6 forward points paces:

Drouin 43 ------------ Spezza 46
Perry 35 -------------- Thornton 37
Kotkaniemi 29 ----- Kerfoot 34

Byron 29 ------------- Mikheyev 26
Armia 28 ------------- Engvall 23
Lehkonen 23 ------- Simmonds 19
Evans 23 ------------- Brooks 37


Playoffs

Perry 37 ----------- Kerfoot 70
Kotkaniemi 35 -- Spezza 59
Armia 31 ------- Galchenyuk 55

Staal 31 --------- Engvall 14
Evans 23 ------- Thornton 12
Byron 22 ------- Simmonds 12
Lehkonen 19 - Mikheyev 0
Tatar 16 -------- Nash 0

How many of those “depth” guys for Toronto put up their points in non-depth roles and/or riding shotgun for the big-4? Thornton, Galchenyuk, Simmons… Kerfoot in the playoffs.

 

[zeke]

Let’s not pretend that Philly wasn’t big, strong and physical as well.

And who won the cup that year?

Stillman --- Richards --- St.Louis
Modin --- Lecavalier --- Andreychuk
Fedotenko --- Taylor --- Afinosenkov
Dingman --- Perrin --- Roy

Sydor --- Boyle
Pratt --- Kubina
Lukowich --- Sarich

 

[zeke]

How many of those “depth” guys for Toronto put up their points in non-depth roles and/or riding shotgun for the big-4? Thornton, Galchenyuk, Simmons… Kerfoot in the playoffs.

Habs guys all spent time on their top lines too.

And you're telling me a galchenyuk-kerfoot-nylander line is a stacked top line now?

 

[Clark4Ever]

Nick Ritchie – 2021 Free Agency

July 31, 2021 • 07:16

Nick Ritchie speaks with the media following his signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He looks like he slimmed down a bit already. He seems motivated to show up at camp in great shape.

He's got 2 years to prove himself and set the stage for a potentially big pay day as a UFA. Hopefully, we'll see the best version of Ritchie yet in the NHL.

 

[ToneDog]

He looks like he slimmed down a bit already. He seems motivated to show up at camp in great shape.

He's got 2 years to prove himself and set the stage for a potentially big pay day as a UFA. Hopefully, we'll see the best version of Ritchie yet in the NHL.

Should have signed his bro and ice a 3rd line of N Ritchie Kerfoot and B Ritchie.

 

[Dreakmur]

Habs guys all spent time on their top lines too.

They didn't get absolutely dragged along like Thornton.

I like how you eliminated Montreal's top 6 before counting depth, but only did Toronto's top 5.

And you're telling me a galchenyuk-kerfoot-nylander line is a stacked top line now?

The second line isn't a depth line, and Nylander is one of the big-4.

 

[saltming]

From what I've read, a really good idea. At 230 lbs, drop 15 of fat and gain 5-10 muscle. Leaner, stronger, better aerobics, a half-step faster. Works for me.

Hockey is mainly an anaerobic sport but I feel he does need to refine some fast twitch muscle

 

[Dreakmur]

And who won the cup that year?

Stillman --- Richards --- St.Louis
Modin --- Lecavalier --- Andreychuk
Fedotenko --- Taylor --- Afinosenkov
Dingman --- Perrin --- Roy

Sydor --- Boyle
Pratt --- Kubina
Lukowich --- Sarich

Tampa had like 10 guys who were 6'4"+

They weren't particularly aggressive, but they didn't get pushed around.

 

[zeke]

They didn't get absolutely dragged along like Thornton.

Thornton produced just as well on a line with Brooks and Spezza, actually.

I like how you eliminated Montreal's top 6 before counting depth, but only did Toronto's top 5.

That didn't happen.

The second line isn't a depth line, and Nylander is one of the big-4.

Yes our depth sucked so bad that it was excellent even when it had to fill in for injured 2nd liners.

 

[justloveleafs]

I think Dubas has done a great job. He is creating a climate and environment unparelleled in Leaf history.

Here is the ZINGER KYLE, just cause I love the LEAFS.

Get larry, to do some real estating.

Its all good right. Buy up batches of great homes all over the environs of Toronto, make them accessible to the ACC.

Rent them out, to your players.

And renovate these houses to the taste of Mrs. Toronto Maple Leaf.

Flex your financial muscle where you can, and in a very tasteful way.

 

[zeke]

Tampa had like 10 guys who were 6'4"+

They weren't particularly aggressive, but they didn't get pushed around.

Lecavalier 6'4" 2nd line
Andreychuk 6'4" 2nd line
Modin 6'4" 2nd line

Afanosenkov 6'3 3rd line

Roy 6'4" 4th line
Dingman 6'4" 4th line

Kubina 6'4" 2nd pair
Pratt 6'3" 2nd pair

Sarich 6'4" 3rd pair




Matthews 6'3 1st line

Mikheyev 6'3 3rd line
Engvall 6'5 3rd line

Thornton 6'4 4th line
Spezza 6'3 4th line
Simmonds 6'2 4th line


Muzzin 6'3 2nd pair
Holl 6'4 2nd pair

Bogosian 6'3 3rd pair

 

[Dreakmur]

Lecavalier 6'4" 2nd line
Andreychuk 6'4" 2nd line
Modin 6'4" 2nd line

Afanosenkov 6'3 3rd line

Roy 6'4" 4th line
Dingman 6'4" 4th line

Kubina 6'4" 2nd pair
Pratt 6'3" 2nd pair

Sarich 6'4" 3rd pair




Matthews 6'3 1st line

Mikheyev 6'3 3rd line
Engvall 6'5 3rd line

Thornton 6'4 4th line
Spezza 6'3 4th line
Simmonds 6'2 4th line


Muzzin 6'3 2nd pair
Holl 6'4 2nd pair

Bogosian 6'3 3rd pair

Despite being big, Toronto let themselves get pushed around… it’s hard to watch sometimes.

 

[Dreakmur]

Yes our depth sucked so bad that it was excellent even when it had to fill in for injured 2nd liners.

It was so good, we almost managed to beat the lowest playoff seed!

 

[Nylander88]

Ritchie reminds me of Luke Schenn after his first few years when he added too much size and lost all speed / mobility. Obviously that’s part of his game to be big / physical but I feel it would be in his best interest to sacrifice a bit of that for more speed / conditioning

Luckily we have one heck of a skating coach in our organization. Arguably one of the best.

 

[Commander Clueless]

I think I would have preferred spending that cap on a C and moving Kerfoot full time to the wing, but I'm cool with rolling the dice on Ritchie.

Our LW is still looking weak with the departure of Hyman and (on paper, at least) Foligno.

I wonder if the Leafs will try to roll three lines with one defensive line....something like:

Ritchie-Matthews-Marner (Scoring 1)
Bunting-Tavares-Kase (Scoring 2)
Simmonds-Kerfoot-Nylander (Scoring 3)
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev (Shutdown)
Spezza/Robertson/etc.

If Robertson breaks out, he could sub in for one of the (frankly interchangeable) 3 scoring line LWs. Or Kase if his injury troubles continue.

Stupid idea?

 

[DueDiligence]

Do you have any stats to share this info? I have a habs buddy who keeps saying leafs bottom 6 are horrible..

Not horrible. Just not as good as other playoff teams.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Ritchie never lost a fight. He is a nasty man to tangle with. He’s a bull with heavy hands Potentially a 20/20 season would be something he has a goal to get done this year. He will look after Tavares etc for sure. Tavares can be more angry to help himself too.
Matthews and Tavares both need to be more angry. Why do they let guys beat them around. I don’t get it. Anyways they have backup finally coming

 

[fahad203]

Ritchie never lost a fight. He is a nasty man to tangle with. He’s a bull with heavy hands Potentially a 20/20 season would be something he has a goal to get done this year. He will look after Tavares etc for sure. Tavares can be more angry to help himself too.
Matthews and Tavares both need to be more angry. Why do they let guys beat them around. I don’t get it. Anyways they have backup finally coming

If he can get 15 goals and provide some sand paper. I'll be ok

Problem with him is his laziness. He looks so disengaged sometimes

 

[Cpt Maple Leaf]

Wasn't Jim Plunkett the QB the last time the Raiders won the SB?

wasnt 67 lol

 

[The Nic]

Ritchie never lost a fight. He is a nasty man to tangle with. He’s a bull with heavy hands Potentially a 20/20 season would be something he has a goal to get done this year. He will look after Tavares etc for sure. Tavares can be more angry to help himself too.
Matthews and Tavares both need to be more angry. Why do they let guys beat them around. I don’t get it. Anyways they have backup finally coming

Even Sundin eventually learned how to "give some back" in the cheap shot department.

 

[Bluelines]

Fan fact, Kase and Ritchie played on Anaheim at the same time. I've seen some of Kase goals and Ritchie was on the ice at the same time...even received an assist on some of them. ..looked like they were doing a cycle down low on some of his goals... imagine that a Leaf team with players that can cycle down low

 

[zeke]

It was so good, we almost managed to beat the lowest playoff seed!

That's on getting 1 goal from our 3 $11m men.