In summary, it's a contrast of an intermittent, slow, physical, and explosive player compared to a bland, fast skater, and a more complete player. What I don't understand is the "it's a lateral move" description. In my perspective, the Ducks have been sloppy in their play.
There's two ways to win: outscore the other team via better offense or outlast the other team with better defense. I'm sad to see the potential of Ritchie go, but we're still waiting on that potential. With Heinen, we get a more complete player, though bland. I like the more complete player because he can help mitigate sloppiness on the ice and be reliable every time he's on the ice to deliver such a performance.
With Ritchie, when he's on, then he's en fuego. Unfortunately, he's not on often. Yes, a significant part is that he's a 10th overall pick, but it's that potential is why a lot of Duck fans aren't happy losing him. But if we take a step back, Ritchie has been counted upon to lead the next group of Ducks and it hasn't come close to fruition yet. On the other extreme, Kase is a 7th round pick who is an offensive, energizer bunny of a dynamo with speed. Kase was traded because of his lack of durability. Anaheim can't absorb his loss in the lineup if we're to rely on him now and into the far future. That's a significant gamble. When you compare Ritchie and Kase' production on paper and on-ice, it's baffling to wonder who's the 10th overall and the 7th round pick.
Ritchie is similar to Pat Maroon, but Maroon was a 6th round draft pick.
The Ducks are bottom dwellers. We were bottom dwellers for most of last season too. Something in our core needed changing. That's one of the significant reasons why I don't mind this trade.