Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] Leafs sign Nick Ritchie (2 years, $2.5M AAV)

[Zonk]

How is there 15 pages on a thread for Nick Ritchie?

It is surprising that a Bruins' fan asks this, because the Boston forum has three entire threads on Ritchie!
Since most Bruins fans are dumping all over Ritchie as a Leaf, I thought it would be interesting to see what they thought of him when he was a Bruin. To be fair, you yourself have been consistent in your criticism, but many of your colleagues have not. This spring during the playoffs there was quite a bit of speculation on what Ritchie's next contract would be. One poster nailed it at 2.5 X 2, but was quickly shot down for making an "insulting" offer. The majority expected to see 3.5 X 2. And as pointed out earlier in this thread, Ritchie won the "7th man" award which appears to be considered quite an honour by your forum.

 

[glenbuis]

I think Ritchie is a good fit there. I liked brother in Calgary. Just shouldn't be playing top 6. He has enough skill to play 3rd line and brings some size. Liked this one and Kase for the Leafs. Awfully risky goaltending tandem though.

The Leafs really shouldn't have signed Tavares. Makes it almost inevitable that there will be roster holes elsewhere.

Tavares hasn't cost the leafs anyone of importance. Marleau and Zaitsev contracts did...and Marner should be paid about 1.5 million less. If we kept our 13th pick (lost in Marleau trade), and C.Brown (lost in Zaitsev trade)... we would be in a fine position right now. The other problem is Dubas also tried to build an 80s Oilers team and neutered the leafs of any toughness they had.

someone gotta put dubas on skates and run him over just so he can get a feel for playoff hockey. 4?rounds of constant battering by teams like the islanders and lighting isnt for 23 finesse players

 

[inactive user]

It is surprising that a Bruins' fan asks this, because the Boston forum has three entire threads on Ritchie!
Since most Bruins fans are dumping all over Ritchie as a Leaf, I thought it would be interesting to see what they thought of him when he was a Bruin. To be fair, you yourself have been consistent in your criticism, but many of your colleagues have not. This spring during the playoffs there was quite a bit of speculation on what Ritchie's next contract would be. One poster nailed it at 2.5 X 2, but was quickly shot down for making an "insulting" offer. The majority expected to see 3.5 X 2. And as pointed out earlier in this thread, Ritchie won the "7th man" award which appears to be considered quite an honour by your forum.

I've been inconsistent with my criticism towards Ritchie as well but that's because Ritchie himself has displayed inconsistency throughout his entire time in Boston. I was one of the many Bruins fans pleased with his performance in the regular season but once the playoffs started he was no longer able to keep up with the pace of the play. Cassidy also notice how ineffective he was that he took Ritchie off the top PP unit and he's had Ritchie on that unit for pretty much the entire season. Overall I think I somewhat liked Ritchie but I was glad that he didn't receive his QO from Sweeney because he had arbitration rights and the thought of having to pay him more than $2.5M left a bitter taste in my mouth.

 

[FerrisRox]

Tavares hasn't cost the leafs anyone of importance. Marleau and Zaitsev contracts did...and Marner should be paid about 1.5 million less. If we kept our 13th pick (lost in Marleau trade), and C.Brown (lost in Zaitsev trade)... we would be in a fine position right now. The other problem is Dubas also tried to build an 80s Oilers team and neutered the leafs of any toughness they had.

The 80's Oilers teams were tough as hell. Semenko, Hunter, McSorely, McCelland. There were ZERO similarities between the 80's Oilers and Dubas' Leafs.

 

[North Cole]

How is there 15 pages on a thread for Nick Ritchie?

Same reason as the Ceci Thread

We got to 19 pages over there.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Or just do not take into consideration the Ducks and Bruins fans who have watched him at the pro level. Just assume he is a goal scorer who has size and will hit everything in site. Good luck with that, Duck fans warned Bruins fans. There are reason's you trade a young high pick. As a Bruins fan good luck to him. Maybe he finally gets it and gets in shape. On the same hand I am so glad he is gone. I would take Nordstrom over him 10 times out of 10.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Or just do not take into consideration the Ducks and Bruins fans who have watched him at the pro level. Just assume he is a goal scorer who has size and will hit everything in site. Good luck with that, Duck fans warned Bruins fans. There are reason's you trade a young high pick. As a Bruins fan good luck to him. Maybe he finally gets it and gets in shape. On the same hand I am so glad he is gone. I would take Nordstrom over him 10 times out of 10.

Right on.
I guess we shoulda just rolled over and showed our bellies.
Imagine if everyone listened to former teams.... Hamilton, Seguin, Wheeler have had fine careers.

 

[DangleCity]

Right on.
I guess we shoulda just rolled over and showed our bellies.
Imagine if everyone listened to former teams.... Hamilton, Seguin, Wheeler have had fine careers.

You really going to compare Nick Ritchie to Hamilton, Seguin, and Wheeler?

 

[DangleCity]

Not a bad signing I guess. Ritchie always struck me as one of those players who thinks he's better than he is, so doesn't work as hard as he should.

It's always been and effort and conditioning thing with him. My guess is he will start off well with the Leafs and try hard, then he'll get comfortable and lazy and coast the rest of the contract

 

[Double Dion]

Tavares hasn't cost the leafs anyone of importance. Marleau and Zaitsev contracts did...and Marner should be paid about 1.5 million less. If we kept our 13th pick (lost in Marleau trade), and C.Brown (lost in Zaitsev trade)... we would be in a fine position right now. The other problem is Dubas also tried to build an 80s Oilers team and neutered the leafs of any toughness they had.

Yes Tavares has cost multiple important pieces. He has an 11M dollar deal and there's a salary cap. You could have another top 6 forward, top 4 D and an upgrade in goal with that money.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Right on.
I guess we shoulda just rolled over and showed our bellies.
Imagine if everyone listened to former teams.... Hamilton, Seguin, Wheeler have had fine careers.

No one ever said they were not good players. I see the attempted pattern you project however Wheeler was traded for Peverley which led to the Bruins winning a Cup. Swing and a miss.

 

[mac nylander]

Yes Tavares has cost multiple important pieces.

I would argue Covid had more of an effect than JT.

Nonetheless, you're kinda right.

 

[bb_fan]

Well he was 5th in goals 3rd in ppg and 1st in hits amongst your forwards last year.

still doesn't change how invisible he was and how non-physical he was.

 

[The90]

still doesn't change how invisible he was and how non-physical he was.

The bar is a 43 year old joe Thornton lol. Anywhere’s above that and he’s an improvement which is hilarious as it is

 

[Contenderorpretender]

still doesn't change how invisible he was and how non-physical he was.

Yeah that happens. Happened with Marner Matthews some guy named foligno and even taylor hall only had 1 point more than Ritchie in the playoffs. For 2.5mil wouldn't say it's a huge risk.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

still doesn't change how invisible he was and how non-physical he was.

How was he non physical when he literally led your forwards in hits ?

 

[Antropovsky]

You really going to compare Nick Ritchie to Hamilton, Seguin, and Wheeler?

Crazy thing is i recall wheeler had pretty low value while in Boston ... If I remember correctly people scoffed at him possibly being a big piece in the Kaberle trade. Remember people seemingly bring happier to get Colborne at the time. Could be wrong though it's a long time now.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

The Atlantic will be like the pacific where only 3 teams get in and being in a race with Boston Florida and Tampa for the top 3 spots will not be easy as you say it is

Here we go again. Any division the leafs find themselves in sucks and would get killed in X division. This garbage is just too predictable at this point

 

[I Hate Philadelphia]

Here we go again. Any division the leafs find themselves in sucks and would get killed in X division. This garbage is just too predictable at this point

Literally nobody cares what division the Leafs are in or if they make the playoffs because we all know they'll lose in the first round anyway.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

Literally nobody cares what division the Leafs are in or if they make the playoffs because we all know they'll lose in the first round anyway.

Are you new here? These boards are literally filled with haters banging on about what division the leafs are in. Circle back to the meme that was the north division last year buddy.

 

[I Hate Philadelphia]

Are you new here? These boards are literally filled with haters banging on about what division the leafs are in. Circle back to the meme that was the north division last year buddy.

The COVID "North Division" was one of the worst divisions in NHL history and it had very little to do with the Leafs.

 

[ffh]

Here we go again. Any division the leafs find themselves in sucks and would get killed in X division. This garbage is just too predictable at this point

What are you talking about. I responded to a leaf fan who said the leafs would make the playoffs easy. I don't think so. I think there's a good chance they finish 4th in the Atlantic and then all bets are off considering how good they metro is. Certainly not locks to make playoffs.

 

[BRUINS since 1995]

This is 17 pages of Leafs fans trying to be happy with the signing and everyone else trying to tell them Ritchie sucks

Not everyone else. I think he can do the job if well rounded and put in the right chair. A lot of Boston fans are not fans of N. Ritchie and he got a lot of heat on our Boston board. Kase can do the job if he starts .... playing. Was injured most of his time in Boston.

 

[HandshakeLineRespect]

The COVID "North Division" was one of the worst divisions in NHL history and it had very little to do with the Leafs.

Was the same narrative the year before with the Atlantic, even with Tampa and Boston people were hating on that division. Dont believe me? Go thru the archives my son.

 

[Clark4Ever]

The COVID "North Division" was one of the worst divisions in NHL history and it had very little to do with the Leafs.

And yet, if Philadelphia was in the North Division, they still would have missed the playoffs.