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

[Wafflewhipper]

Thinking Ritchie can play big role on both top lines when ever Keefe wants to switch it up. Would like another big nasty left winger.Crouse preferentially. All the soft pkayers need to go out the bottom 6. Plat a big fighting winger on each side of the top 6 with some hands. Crouse is one the most misused players in the game rotting in Arizona.

 

[Duffman955]

I think he puts up 20+ goals this year easily.

He's got definite skill and soft hands for a big forward, especially around the net

 

[bb74]

I hope so much Ritchie comes in to camp in the best shape ever. Hyman done all the forchecking work for Matthews and Marner but now they are going to have to get on pucks more themselves. That’s the wrinkle of diffenence between Ritchie and Hyman. It might work out over time that Ritchie/Tavares/Marner are a line. Then come with Robertson/Matthews/ Nylander maybe.

Ritchie doesn’t have the footspeed to be first man in. That is his kryptonite and why he couldn’t perform late season and playoffs like in the early season. He needs an E/W center to slow things down in order to setup in the crease. Like a modern day Andreychuck.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I think he puts up 20+ goals this year easily.

He's got definite skill and soft hands for a big forward, especially around the net

I think 20 is coming too. If he comes to camp in really good shape he’s going to set himself up really good over the next couple years for Ufa. You just know thats how it goes. I kind of wish we’d gotten 3 years from him. Just more a need than hyman and the money difference makes him superior value.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Ritchie doesn’t have the footspeed to be first man in. That is his kryptonite and why he couldn’t perform late season and playoffs like in the early season. He needs an E/W center to slow things down in order to setup in the crease. Like a modern day Andreychuck.

As long as he goes to the net when he gets there and keeps the wolves from taking liberties with his linemates I’m happy. He doesn’t skate like Hyman. That’s kind of a trade off I’m good with. The line played fine without Hyman too.

 

[4thline]

As long as he goes to the net when he gets there and keeps the wolves from taking liberties with his linemates I’m happy. He doesn’t skate like Hyman. That’s kind of a trade off I’m good with. The line played fine without Hyman too.

The line lit it up with Thornton, and while Ritchie is certainly no burner he moves a hell of a lot faster than Jumbo did last year

 

[Antropovsky]

Ritchie is a Hammer. He has heavy heavy hands. Kassian got thumped. Check all his fights,he doesn’t lose. Fast hands for a big dude. Twister is the last one i seen with that power and speed. I wonder how many minutes it will take Ritchie to clean out Chiarot first game. I’m not thinking he will put up with that dirtbag very long. Great signing

I was reading about Ritchie on the Boston board. Posters talked about how he's a very technical fighter, and very good.

 

[Stephen]

Ritchie's a bit of an enigma but oddly enough I think his game will be better appreciated in Toronto than say Anaheim or Boston. The latter two teams (at the time) deployed more of a 2-1-2 aggressive forecheck that requires physical commitment from the whole line. Ritchie's physical play and effort are too inconsistent to be relied on in a purely checking line role like, say, NYI's 4th line. In that system if he looks off or sleeping, you notice it a lot more.

Here he'll be a cruising power winger on a skill line, whether it's with JT-WN or Kerfoot-Kase IMO, and his physical play will stand out more because his line mates are completely lacking in that area. The focus and pressure will be more on his production as a top 6 LW than it has been in energy line roles with ANA/BOS.

A go-to shutdown line with pesky physical play is still unaddressed and you don't want Ritchie on a line like that. He's not good enough defensively or in transition to face high QOC. Kampf is a decent start but the bottom six configuration is still a problem; not enough line identity.

The key to Ritchie's success in Toronto and appreciation is we didn't invest a high pick to get him. Famous Leafs draft bust like Scott Thornton and Luke Richardson were actually pretty good players for a long time, but not good top 5-10 picks to be a franchise foundation.

 

[saltming]

Ritchie doesn’t have the footspeed to be first man in. That is his kryptonite and why he couldn’t perform late season and playoffs like in the early season. He needs an E/W center to slow things down in order to setup in the crease. Like a modern day Andreychuck.

Sounds like a job for Tavares

 

[Menzinger]

The line lit it up with Thornton, and while Ritchie is certainly no burner he moves a hell of a lot faster than Jumbo did last year

Yep. Thornton didn't slow down Matthews and Mariners production in the slightest.

Folks tend to over think fit when it comes to the top two lines. Each has a pair of line drivers who just need a healthy body beside them to bang jn the odd puck

 

[saltming]

Yep. Thornton didn't slow down Matthews and Mariners production in the slightest.

Folks tend to over think fit when it comes to the top two lines. Each has a pair of line drivers who just need a healthy body beside them to bang jn the odd puck

That said Marner seemed without comparison when he had Tkachuk on his wing in Jr.
Fingers crossed if they play together that happens again

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I was reading about Ritchie on the Boston board. Posters talked about how he's a very technical fighter, and very good.

Lefty too and he doesn’t lose.He switches hands with ease, just devastating when he scraps. Just a devastating power and quickness. It’s lethal scary the way he throws

 

[Wafflewhipper]

The line lit it up with Thornton, and while Ritchie is certainly no burner he moves a hell of a lot faster than Jumbo did last year

Very true, he’s a upgrade on Thornton.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

It’s going to be a relief not having to watch our guys get owned and slapped around most of the time. Shoe is on the other foot now finally. I hope they all start playing hateful with the backup thete for them

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I think he puts up 20+ goals this year easily.

He's got definite skill and soft hands for a big forward, especially around the net

I think you are right and he has a career year if everything goes well. Most talented line mates he’s ever had.

 

[Sypher04]

Hymanis one of the premier forcheckers in the entire league. He most certainly did do the forchecking for them.

I don't reject that he forechecked. I reject your premise that he did all the forechecking for the line which is absolutely false

 

[Gary Nylund]

I don't reject that he forechecked. I reject your premise that he did all the forechecking for the line which is absolutely false

All is obviously an overstatement if you want to get technical. My impression is that he did most of the forechecking on that line, substantially more than his 2 linemates put together. Is that better?

Idle speculation - I think it's possible that as a percentage, Hyman might have even done a bigger share of forechecking on his line then any other player in the NHL. I don't think I've ever seen a better forechecker in my 50+ years of following the Leafs.

 

[4thline]

The key to Ritchie's success in Toronto and appreciation is we didn't invest a high pick to get him. Famous Leafs draft bust like Scott Thornton and Luke Richardson were actually pretty good players for a long time, but not good top 5-10 picks to be a franchise foundation.

That's a good point.

But I think that the other side of that coin is that had we traded Kerfoot and a 3rd for him prior to the draft then locked him up long term he'd be viewed a lot differently in terms quality added to the team vs. bargain hunting.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I don't reject that he forechecked. I reject your premise that he did all the forechecking for the line which is absolutely false

Oh yeah ok. Just more over entailing comment.i agree actually. We areon same page

 

[TheProspector]

The way teams play Matthews (Trouba, Andersson, Chiarot, Weber) makes me sick to my stomach. Would be great to see Ritchie introduce himself to Suzuki and Caufield the next time we meet so as to set the ground rules for engagement with any team that tries to beat the Leafs by hurting our players.

Dubas doing the right way, too -- guys who are tough as nails, a bit dirty, and can play a shift -- even up and down the lineup (in the case of Ritchie). Leafs are going to be a little dirty this year. I'm looking forward to being on the other end of it for once.

 

[TheProspector]

And yet they performed just as well without him.

Whoever plays with M&M this season will eclipse Hyman's maximum season point totals to date.

I don't think the Hyman deal was that bad. I would have been OK if the Leafs had done the same total money over 8. But to think that it was *Hyman* who stirred the drink.. hahahahah.

 

[myleafs]

Dubas doing the right way, too -- guys who are tough as nails, a bit dirty, and can play a shift -- even up and down the lineup (in the case of Ritchie). Leafs are going to be a little dirty this year. I'm looking forward to being on the other end of it for once.

I pray and hope you are right but I won't believe it until I see it.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

There are a combination of things that could project a career year for Ritchie. Maybe two career years in a row if he really works out and has chemistry with either of our top centers. His career ice time average going up definitely not being the least of it. His 15:48 career average could go up 3 minutes or more in our top 6. I am assuming it will rise obviously but it is likely.

20 goals and 20 assists playing with Matthews/Tavares/Willy/Marner is my expectation if he stays healthy.
Nick Ritchie Stats | Hockey-Reference.com

On top of that he will keep our top players protected. Seems like he fills more needs than Hyman did. The more i check the signing out the more i like it. Good fit both sides here.

 

[Twine Tickler]

I think my expectations are lower than most on here. I have always been a fan of Nick's, dating back to when he was drafted. I remember thinking the Leafs made a mistake drafting Willy in place of him. WAS I EVER WRONG ON THAT...

As far as I am concerned I will not put a goal mark for him. He scored 15 goals last year, but I've watched just about all of them on NHL.com and at least 50% of them were terrible goals. Not even "make your own luck" type of goals, just flat out stinky tending. Anything can happen when you play with Mitch and Auston, but I just don't know if that's the best place for him. I guess that's what training camp is for.

I wouldn't be surprised if he had less than 10 goals, or over 25 goals. It will really come down to who he plays with, because by all accounts he doesn't necessarily drive play on either side of the rink.

he is a complete wildcard for me

 

[Havoc]

I think my expectations are lower than most on here. I have always been a fan of Nick's, dating back to when he was drafted. I remember thinking the Leafs made a mistake drafting Willy in place of him. WAS I EVER WRONG ON THAT...

As far as I am concerned I will not put a goal mark for him. He scored 15 goals last year, but I've watched just about all of them on NHL.com and at least 50% of them were terrible goals. Not even "make your own luck" type of goals, just flat out stinky tending. Anything can happen when you play with Mitch and Auston, but I just don't know if that's the best place for him. I guess that's what training camp is for.

I wouldn't be surprised if he had less than 10 goals, or over 25 goals. It will really come down to who he plays with, because by all accounts he doesn't necessarily drive play on either side of the rink.

he is a complete wildcard for me

You should watch again. Only one fluke goal against Blackwood. The rest are what we signed him for. He'll get those chances every game.

Goal #14 is bad goaltending yes but he gets the wrister off fast and accurate. If he does that consistently off Marner / Nylander passes he will easily surpass 20 goals (quick wrister ability, tips/deflections, crashing the net etc.).