For the second straight day, the Maple Leafs have added a former Bruin winger to their team, announcing the signing of Nick Ritchie to a two-year contract. The deal will carry a cap hit of $2.5MM.
The 25-year-old was the tenth-overall pick back in 2014 with Anaheim hoping he’d become an impact power forward but that didn’t really happen; while he brought plenty of physicality, his offensive production was hot and cold. That made him expendable and in 2020, Ritchie was flipped to Boston in exchange for Danton Heinen with the hopes that the Bruins could help unlock that offensive consistency.
To his credit, Ritchie did manage a career-high 15 goals last season despite the shortened schedule while chipping in with four points in 11 playoff contests but the Bruins opted to not tender him a $2MM qualifying offer earlier this week which made him an unrestricted free agent; Heinen suffered the same fate with Anaheim. Ritchie did pretty well on the open market, landing more than that offer would have been for from Toronto while getting a second year.
With the Maple Leafs, Ritchie should have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the top six with both Zach Hyman and Nick Foligno moving on in free agency. He’s someone that both head coach Sheldon Keefe and GM Kyle Dubas are somewhat familiar with from their days with OHL Sault Ste. Marie as Ritchie spent a partial season there to wrap up his major junior career.
This may very well be it for signings from the Maple Leafs; CapFriendly now has Toronto at roughly $1.4MM over the $81.5MM Upper Limit of the salary cap. However, that’s with a projected full 23-man roster and as we saw last season, they’re likely to carry closer to the minimum of 20 skaters. Even after removing some potentially AHL-bound players (pending waivers), they’ll still basically be in a spot where they will be just about at the cap ceiling so any other moves to add to their roster from here on out will require offsetting money.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the signing.
Not at the top of everyone’s wish list, but…this is, at least, the type of player the Leafs need more of in their lineup. And 15 goals in a shortened season is not nothing.
The Leafs will need one less phone book on the team bus.
Interesting that this worked out (in a way) to a Nick Foligno for Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie trade.
That’s actually a solid addition. One wonders given it takes the bigger power forward type longer to develop if Ritchie is potentially on the cusp of a breakout? I haven’t watched him play but I know guys like Cotourier, Schenn took quite some time to develop into quality scoring players.
Wonder how he’d perform on a line with Marner and Matthews. Bring a different element than those two and I think it would be an intriguing option.
I can’t wait for you to be dissappointed…
I’m not a leafs fan so truthfully I don’t want him to do well (take that leafs) but from a fantasy perspective I’m intrigued
Certainly not comparing him to Cam Neely but he certainly disappointed many before becoming the player he did. Say what you want about power forwards but they rarely produce right out of the chute. The comment about playing him with Marner and Matthews definitely has merit. That line needs a power forward to replace Hyman, who was a power forward himself.
Are you a former Duck and Bruin? Then Toronto wants you!
More to the point, does the GM and coach know you from your time in the Soo? Then Toronto wants You! Pack your Greyhounds shirt and memorabilia and join us for Soo Sunday brunches at Kyle’s place where you will meet plenty of alumni and swap stories of playing for the greatest hockey club in the world.
This is the type of player the Leafs need but confusing how he didn’t get a QO at 2M and yet received a 2 year deal at 2.5per
… because Toronto’s more desperate than Boston, because they wanted him more?
I would’ve qualified him myself, and I don’t think the likes of a Haula (to whom they gave MORE money) is an upgrade.
That being said, this is a good signing for the Leafs, and at a bargain price given some of the whacky contracts that have been flying out there.
As a Bruin fan , I’m glad they did not qualify Ritchie, if they had and he went to arbitration he could have received a contract in the 3-3.5 range, and not worth it.
Once he was taken off the PP and dropped to the 3rd line with about 20 games left last yr, he did absolutely nothing, no hitting, no commitment to play hard.
He was missing in action during the playoffs in all but maybe 1 game.
We will see which Ritchie shows up next yr.
Makes total sense. 2.5 is pushing it 3.5 would not be a good contract and it would be below the walk away threshold so Boston would be stuck.