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

[McSnypsky]

He's also really good defensively and can make some really good passes. It's frustrating that he can't score to save his life but imo he's still a net positive player, I'd much rather move Engvall

I still think Mik for his price is good, no matter what he brings his legs to every game, Engvall maybe 1 out of 3 we're already low on guys that bring energy why get rid of one that does?

 

[Pi]

Kase is a slight breeze away from becoming a vegetable at the age of 25. Don't count on him, he's an extreme longshot to even play half the season.

lol. So was Bergeron. Remember how he was out with a significant concussion at a young age?

that doesn’t mean shit.

 

[Pi]

LOL no he can't even do 50% of Hyman's job.

yes he absolutely can. Hyman is f***ing overrated here.

 

[Apex Predator]

If the my trade engvall they can ran 20 man roster with an extra forward and D. They’re not in terrible shape with the cap. Last year they could only tan an 18 man roster.

 

[Nylander88]

I remember Don Cherry ripping the leafs for drafting Nylander over Ritchie. You got your wish now Don he’s a leaf! Lol

I too was bummed. Tough as nails power forward sitting there. Of course, a hometown boy as well. And we take the skilled Swede. Time would go on to prove that Nylander is undoubtedly the far superior player, and holds much more value. However when it happened, I too didn't like it. Nice that 7 years later it has come full circle. I'm sure Ritchie will be pumped up to play on his hometown Leafs...with a lot of other guys who are Ontario boys too

 

[Leafsfan74]

The same people blaming cap management "overpay" forget that prior to COVID the NHL was printing money and it was anticipated that 100M cap was approaching. Dubas signed contracts in anticipation of inflation.. COVID happen and now we're in a flat cap world. It's hard to project for any unforseen instances and I don't blame him for the logic.

It's impressive the depth we are finding in free agency and I feel we have improved our depth drastically.

Yes, this is true. The Cap should be higher.

However, you also have to consider how this has had a deflationary effect on F.A contracts. If the Cap were larger, so would the players salaries. So, Leafs would probably be able to pick up one bigger piece (at "regular prices") rather than two mid-tier or prospect signings. That goes for other teams as well.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Too much cap is tied up in 3 forwards and one of them needs to go so that we can ice a more balanced roster.

We have a very balanced roster. Great offense and defense, and a solid goaltending tandem.

 

[Nylander88]

Ritchie much better option than Foligno anyways. This is a good signing.

I'm waiting for the first round of the playoffs. Headline, can the core 4 finally get it done? Sideshow; Foligno vs Ritchie & Kase

 

[GoLeafsGo96]

Between Ritchie, Bunting, Kase, Kampf I think they've done a decent job of shuffling around the depth. Yes Hyman is better than all of them but the hope is you can get combined value from the signings that exceed hyman + thornton

 

[PromisedLand]

yes he absolutely can. Hyman is f***ing overrated here.

Ritchie can't skate the same as Hyman to do what Hyman did to begin with. Not to even mention the PK and other stuff

 

[The Masters]

Anyone but Mikeyve. Get rid of that guy

 

[CupcakeSprinkles]

That's fair. Thing is though, there is a new flat cap reality and IMO that means that adjustments need to be made. Too much cap is tied up in 3 forwards and one of them needs to go so that we can ice a more balanced roster. Dubas seems to be in love with these guys and is stubbornly staying the course so I can blame Dubas for not adjusting. I can, and I will!

Keep in mind one of the quoted top 3 forward didn't even get the chance to play this playoffs and this exposed depth on the Team. This is why you're seeing Dubas go "depth crazy". We are protected against one of the top 3 going down now. Let's see how this year pans out.. regardless if they do fail to breach the first round then the team will have a major, major change.

We are a better team with recent additions.

 

[egd27]

I'm just not a fan of Dubas seemingly signing seemingly trying to sign every 3rd, 4th liner(or worse) available while not getting a legitimate top six talent to replace Hymans offensive production.

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.

 

[taurine330]

Is it scientifically possible that we now have both Nylander and Ritchie.

 

[Leafsfan74]

I still think Mik for his price is good, no matter what he brings his legs to every game, Engvall maybe 1 out of 3 we're already low on guys that bring energy why get rid of one that does?

Mik has to be one of the most dynamic, non-finishers in the league. Kapanen was the same at times.

They seemed to have the ability to drive themselves into high % goal scoring areas and then the play just ends.

 

[Fonzieleaf]

You’d have to think now that one or more forwards are getting traded.

 

[Nylander88]

If the my trade engvall they can ran 20 man roster with an extra forward and D. They’re not in terrible shape with the cap. Last year they could only tan an 18 man roster.

I think Mikheyev goes. Engvall's contract number is easier to use as your healthy scratch or send down. Engvall gives you Center flexibility too that Mikheyev doesn't give you. And Engvall just turned 25, and Mikheyev turns 27 this year. Imo you move the guy with likely more perceived value throughout the league (Mikheyev), and you keep the younger, cheaper, more versatile one for yourself

 

[crump]

Old injured guys out, mid 20’s injured guys in. Just joking. But we get younger. The vets were wile, Thornton, Foligno are great teammates but ended up gassed and/or injured and useless in the playoffs. With a longer season upon us we need youthful stamina and depth. Hopefully these signings let us bury the Engvalls, Brooks and Anderson’s until we need them to cover injuries. Have a feeling there are a couple of trades to come yet as well.

 

[CupcakeSprinkles]

Yes, this is true. The Cap should be higher.

However, you also have to consider how this has had a deflationary effect on F.A contracts. If the Cap were larger, so would the players salaries. So, Leafs would probably be able to pick up one bigger piece (at "regular prices") rather than two mid-tier or prospect signings. That goes for other teams as well.

Sure, but it's impossible to project an unforseen instance like a pandemic. Even then, deflationary effect on F.A. contracts in a flat cap world did not happen. Instead, Teams saw another 81M entering the league which pushed inflationary impacts on salaries.

 

[Duffman955]

Hell ya

We are better than last year for sure with these additions

Ritchie, Simmonds and Gabriel as backup

We breaking noses for sure

 

[Thornbury]

That's fair. Thing is though, there is a new flat cap reality and IMO that means that adjustments need to be made. Too much cap is tied up in 3 forwards and one of them needs to go so that we can ice a more balanced roster. Dubas seems to be in love with these guys and is stubbornly staying the course so I can blame Dubas for not adjusting. I can, and I will!

For this season, that ship has sailed.

 

[Savvy]

Getting rid of Mikheyev would be a big mistake. Not sure why everyone is so eager for it. Given time he could recover his scoring touch and the other elements he brings to the game are very important to this team.

 

[Apex Predator]

I think Mikheyev goes. Engvall's contract number is easier to use as your healthy scratch or send down. Engvall gives you Center flexibility too that Mikheyev doesn't give you. And Engvall just turned 25, and Mikheyev turns 27 this year. Imo you move the guy with likely more perceived value throughout the league (Mikheyev), and you keep the younger, cheaper, more versatile one for yourself

Never thought about the center part. That makes more sense to keep engvall.

 

[Thornbury]

Ritchie's cap hit last season was 1.5 AAV

his QO would have been about 1.6 to 1.7 AAV

that's a solid million extra he is earning; since he is walking right to UFA. I guess we could have negotiated it at 1.75 to 2 AAV

oh well....

Too bad Dubas didn't call you first.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Mik has to be one of the most dynamic, non-finishers in the league. Kapanen was the same at times.

They seemed to have the ability to drive themselves into high % goal scoring areas and then the play just ends.

Don't agree with the comparison at all, Mikheyev is far better than Kapanen defensively and positionally, but can't shoot to save his life whereas Kapanen actually had a decent shot, he just had brutal tunnel vision and couldn't really set up plays.

It sucks seeing Mikheyev blow so many breakaways, trust me I get it, but at least he gets all his breakaways from actually out-working D-Men and beating them through the neutral zone, it would be a different case if he was cheating for offense and still missing so often.