Player Discussion Nick Ritchie
- Thread starter PB37
- Start date
- Status
rocketdan9
Registered User
- Feb 5, 2009
- 20,411
- 13,210
A
A quiet game.
He'd probably be most effective if he plays like he did against Tampa, mixing it up and playing physical. I just don't think he has it in him to bring that consistently.
A quiet game.
He'd probably be most effective if he plays like he did against Tampa, mixing it up and playing physical. I just don't think he has it in him to bring that consistently.
Dennis Bonvie
Registered User
rocketdan9
Registered User
- Feb 5, 2009
- 20,411
- 13,210
Looking like a poor trade with every game
Zero points, zero impact
In some ways you prefer his older brother because at least he can skate a little better
I say bench him and play Kuhlman or Stud
LSCII
Cup driven
He's a tweener. Either a solid 4th line option or a marginal 3rd line one. What makes it worse is the team had up until today, used him on the 2nd line, which is crazy.
Blowfish
Count down ...
Dennis Bonvie
Registered User
I'm steadily coming to the unfortunate conclusion that Ritchie was a bad trade. He's a NHL-quality player and better than his brother, no question. In the right team he could effectively fill a 3rd line role. But the problem is that he just doesn't suit the Bruins, at all. He's not quick enough, doesn't play with enough intensity, and can neither play a slick passing game nor be much of a finisher. He's not good enough for our 2nd, holds back our 3rd, and wouldn't gel with the style of our 4th.
Ritchie was presumably brought in as a bigger body who can play physical, create space and put some fear in the opposition. The Bruins need those things - Sweeney was correct there - but they need them from a guy who can also skate and, if not create plays, at least take effective part in them. If Ritchie could move like Tom Wilson he'd do that just fine. But he can't, and so it feels like Don has made the error of trying to fill a hole but forgotten that the object used also has to fit in with the game style of the rest of the team, otherwise you end up with a net loss.
What the 3rd line really needs alongside Bjork and Coyle, and has done all season, is a bigger, better version of Kuhlman - someone with speed who may not have top-6 hands or playmaking ability, but has a heavy, effective shot that can finish the plays started by his linemates. Without that, I fear that Coyle's obvious talent is going to continue to be wasted.
Ritchie was presumably brought in as a bigger body who can play physical, create space and put some fear in the opposition. The Bruins need those things - Sweeney was correct there - but they need them from a guy who can also skate and, if not create plays, at least take effective part in them. If Ritchie could move like Tom Wilson he'd do that just fine. But he can't, and so it feels like Don has made the error of trying to fill a hole but forgotten that the object used also has to fit in with the game style of the rest of the team, otherwise you end up with a net loss.
What the 3rd line really needs alongside Bjork and Coyle, and has done all season, is a bigger, better version of Kuhlman - someone with speed who may not have top-6 hands or playmaking ability, but has a heavy, effective shot that can finish the plays started by his linemates. Without that, I fear that Coyle's obvious talent is going to continue to be wasted.
Last edited:
Over the volcano
Registered User
Sounds like Senyshyn to me, surprised he didn’t get a look in the round robin.
Last edited:
Quite possibly. I haven't been convinced from what I've seen of Seny so far, but I certainly wouldn't say he's a lost cause either and he definitely comes closer to the profile I described. It could well have been beneficial to have given him a look in at least one game, but without seeing the practices it's hard to say whether he was doing enough to earn that chance.
BruinsFanSince94
The Perfect Fan ™
I don't get the inconsistent intensity/physicality with this guy. He knows any shift he can be a dominant force. But it's just not consistent. He needs to bring the hits to the game more. His style suits Coyle well once they enter the offensive zone. He's good down low and puck protection.
Some guys just have that constant loose cannon attitude. Tom Wilson for example. Its frustrating because Ritchie could bring something close to that (the physicality aspect) but it just doesn't click every shift.
He's an NHLer but starting to think he's a higher end 4th liner who can take shifts on the 3rd line and contribute some.
Some guys just have that constant loose cannon attitude. Tom Wilson for example. Its frustrating because Ritchie could bring something close to that (the physicality aspect) but it just doesn't click every shift.
He's an NHLer but starting to think he's a higher end 4th liner who can take shifts on the 3rd line and contribute some.
And how effing long have they been looking for a wing on the second line???
STILL auditioning at this point? Jesus.
DeBrusk is fine. Except when he's not fine. He's talented, doubtless a good guy, but also inconsistant.
If you're counting on a streaky player in a top six role, you're counting on losing. I'd rather have a less talented yet dependible player any day.
The line is a poorly constructed.
And that's managment's fault.
Smitty93
Registered User
- Dec 6, 2012
- 8,216
- 9,378
I think we're hearing the same complaints that we knew of before they traded for him. There's talent there, but he's not dedicated enough to improving off the ice. The word with Ritchie is effort. I think a lot of his problems could be fixed by simply working to be in better shape. If he really dedicated himself to being in the best shape of his life, I think he could live up to his potential.
He's only 24, but it's hard to believe he's going to make that change now.
He's only 24, but it's hard to believe he's going to make that change now.
Fenian24
Registered User
- Jun 14, 2010
- 10,366
- 13,465
He brings size and inconsistent physical play. I would expect Frederic and Beecher to provide size, physicality and some grit up front next year and the year after. For now I will take Ritchie's inconsistent physical play over Danton Heinen any day of the week, never mind his cap hit is half of Heinens.
Sweeney seems to be able to find, draft and develop small, skilled forwards but every attempt he has made to add size and grit up front has failed from Beleskey and Backes possibly now to the Ritchie family. This is a huge missing piece for a very passive group of forwards. The lack of intensity in Bruins games this season has been very noticeable as has been their lack of push back.
Carolina is a good match up for them. Also a non physical team that they should be able to "outskill". When they get to Columbus, Washington, Tampa( who became much tougher to play against) or the Islanders it will be a very different story.
A fourth line of Ritchie-Kuraly-Wagner should be tough to play against.
Sweeney seems to be able to find, draft and develop small, skilled forwards but every attempt he has made to add size and grit up front has failed from Beleskey and Backes possibly now to the Ritchie family. This is a huge missing piece for a very passive group of forwards. The lack of intensity in Bruins games this season has been very noticeable as has been their lack of push back.
Carolina is a good match up for them. Also a non physical team that they should be able to "outskill". When they get to Columbus, Washington, Tampa( who became much tougher to play against) or the Islanders it will be a very different story.
A fourth line of Ritchie-Kuraly-Wagner should be tough to play against.
Fenian24
Registered User
- Jun 14, 2010
- 10,366
- 13,465
I also agree that he is a player who should be much better than he is if he would dedicate himself to getting better. My dislike for the Kovalevs and Kessels of the world isn't just because they were passive players it was because they didn't care about getting better and helping their teams.
Nick Ritchie gets a skating coach and hits the gym he becomes a top 6 forward with his shot and release. Add a willingness to play hard night in and night out and he is a steal for Heinen. He is not doing that right now, getting by on his size and decent hockey IQ regarding positional play in the offensive zone.
Maybe if he doesn't get the contract he wants he will realize this and start to take conditioning and improving his game more seriously.
I still take him over the human answer to insomnia Danton Heinen
Nick Ritchie gets a skating coach and hits the gym he becomes a top 6 forward with his shot and release. Add a willingness to play hard night in and night out and he is a steal for Heinen. He is not doing that right now, getting by on his size and decent hockey IQ regarding positional play in the offensive zone.
Maybe if he doesn't get the contract he wants he will realize this and start to take conditioning and improving his game more seriously.
I still take him over the human answer to insomnia Danton Heinen
MattFromFranklin
Fire Sweeney and Neely
The sad part is that Ritchie might be the best guy available to fill out the roster. Imagine how awful Frederic and Senyshyn must be to not even get a sniff in Ritchie's spot. Although Heinen was certainly replaceable, it's looking like he was the better player in that transaction, which, coupled with yet another season of an incomplete 2nd line, is not a good look for Don "GM of the year" Sweeney.
LSCII
Cup driven
Far too long. And I agree, it's on management at this point. I think the issue is that they've tried to get a big bodied guy instead of just a player with some finish, and it's creating the problem because rather than paying the price for that big body with skill, they're focused on just the size piece of it.
LouJersey
Registered User
Blowfish
Count down ...
LSCII
Cup driven
Yeah, I'd be hard pressed to put him into a series where skating matters too, like this one.
LSCII
Cup driven
Nash could have been good if not for the concussion that ended his career. Of the list you threw out there, Nash was by far the most skilled finisher.
Blowfish
Count down ...
Agreed...however i just didn't like giving up a first and 2nd?. He was a known playoff under performer, aging player, and injury prone. He was okay for the bruins but the bruins were playing better before he joined the team.
Not sure about the 2nd.
LSCII
Cup driven
Sure, the cost to obtain was definitely high. But he at least had a track record of producing in the league, even if it was just the regular season. The first they gave up for Kase is an even bigger risk, imo, because they're betting he puts it all together at some point despite a lack of track record. He's young though, so maybe it works out.
- Status
