Well Feds... you may think so... that's your opinion. But I don't think 26 points in 56 games this season "sucks". It's not like he's an old man at 25. He would look pretty decent on our bottom 6 at a low cost / low term and minimal risk. He plays a physical game and would add some sandpaper. Other than Givani Smith, we don't have anyone who adds that element to our team.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Waste of a roster spot. Don’t need bottom 6 guys that take too many penalties. Little to no upside.

Waste of a roster spot. Don’t need bottom 6 guys that take too many penalties. Little to no upside.
- Feds91Stammer

Waste of a roster spot ?? Maybe in 3 years.... not right now on this team which is totally starved for any offense it can get. Gritty guys like Ritchie who can play physical make the other team play with their head-up and add some much needed forechecking.

Waste of a roster spot ?? Maybe in 3 years.... not right now on this team which is totally starved for any offense it can get. Gritty guys like Ritchie who can play physical make the other team play with their head-up and add some much needed forechecking.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Ritchie intimidates nobody and he will cost you games with stupid penalties. Nice grit boner though.

Ritchie intimidates nobody and he will cost you games with stupid penalties. Nice grit boner though.
- Feds91Stammer

What's costing us games is lack of scoring. As long as he can contribute offensively and forechecks effectively he's worth a roster spot for at least a couple years minimum. We can agree to disagree on this though...

Maybe Yzerman doesn't see Bert as part of the core moving forward and intends to trade him before that contract runs out.
- dcz28

I think he does see him long term - also he could be great trade bait at deadline with that deal and length also.

Also think injury concerns possibly factored into the 2 years.

Ritchie intimidates nobody and he will cost you games with stupid penalties. Nice grit boner though.
- Feds91Stammer

Good grief... this is about the weirdest / dumbest comment I think I've ever read on hockeybuzz... it takes a special kind of stupid to come up with that...

Good grief... this is about the weirdest / dumbest comment I think I've ever read on hockeybuzz... it takes a special kind of stupid to come up with that...

- Vladdie_Kon1

Yeah comments like that keep many people from posting. Sad. Regarding Bert glad he's signed at least for 2 more seasons. Someone mentioned he could get an extension probably a wait and see approach on that until after this season so see how Bert performs and if he can stay healthy.

Yeah comments like that keep many people from posting. Sad. Regarding Bert glad he's signed at least for 2 more seasons. Someone mentioned he could get an extension probably a wait and see approach on that until after this season so see how Bert performs and if he can stay healthy.
- TheSeer

Agreed on Bert. I like it's only for two years since we really don't know at this point how durable he's going to be. He's a huge asset to the team... so I'm just hoping he can stay healthy. If he can.. great. We can lock him up after two years for something longer if he's earned it.

I love the short term deals that Yzerman has put together... they greatly reduce the risk to our cap space and roster spots and give the GM flexibility to keep making adjustments and make the team better. Unlike Holland who was (and still is) inept with contracts he hands out to mediocre players like candy.... along with the fact he was terrible at trades.