Good for him. He needed something to go right for him this year. He simply wasn't a fit for us, which is very unfortunate. I think we all wanted him to come in and have some success as a power forward, but the team doesn't play in straight lines. I don't think Ritchie was ever going to adapt to what Keefe wanted from him.

Meanwhile we get Lyubushkin, who is what we do need. Like everyone else here, I really hope we resign him.
- Monkeypunk

Ritchie hasn't had any big success in his entire career outside of those first 25 games in Boston where he was on their top PP (one of the best in the league) and had an unsustainable shooting percentage. The rest of the time he's a big lumbering 4th liner.

Ritchie hasn't had any big success in his entire career outside of those first 25 games in Boston where he was on their top PP (one of the best in the league) and had an unsustainable shooting percentage. The rest of the time he's a big lumbering 4th liner.
- AdamFrench

Not sure if some people around here are ready to accept this fact even now....🤔

Ritchie hasn't had any big success in his entire career outside of those first 25 games in Boston where he was on their top PP (one of the best in the league) and had an unsustainable shooting percentage. The rest of the time he's a big lumbering 4th liner.
- AdamFrench

I think it's a common oversight that fans have - like Ritchie could done what Bunting is doing but better. Rather than give credit to Bunting for earning his ice through more will than talent, they believe that it's all Matthews and Marner. The other guy needs to be performing a useful role or else you're in a 4 on 5 situation - which is what it typically felt like when Ritchie was on the ice.

I honestly think he was overwhelmed here. He didn't hit. He didn't check. He didn't engage. Like he was so afraid to make a mistake that he made the mistake of doing nothing at all.

You just shut it there!! We are NOT reliving Gilmour V2.0 over again dammit
- Roadrunner75

that would of happen on his first shift

now it's a new game

Good for him. He needed something to go right for him this year. He simply wasn't a fit for us, which is very unfortunate. I think we all wanted him to come in and have some success as a power forward, but the team doesn't play in straight lines. I don't think Ritchie was ever going to adapt to what Keefe wanted from him.

Meanwhile we get Lyubushkin, who is what we do need. Like everyone else here, I really hope we resign him.
- Monkeypunk

win/win for both teams but still mad at them for snagging the goalie from the Leafs.

Ritchie hasn't had any big success in his entire career outside of those first 25 games in Boston where he was on their top PP (one of the best in the league) and had an unsustainable shooting percentage. The rest of the time he's a big lumbering 4th liner.
- AdamFrench

Looks like he's been pretty much bouncing around the 3rd and 4th line and is a mainstay on PP2 for the Yotes.

He doesn't have the hockey IQ and skating to keep up with the big boys. Unfortunate, because it would have been nice for him to gobble up rebounds and make himself a nuisance in front of the net and in the corners in our Top 6.

Oh wellz...

I think it's a common oversight that fans have - like Ritchie could done what Bunting is doing but better. Rather than give credit to Bunting for earning his ice through more will than talent, they believe that it's all Matthews and Marner. The other guy needs to be performing a useful role or else you're in a 4 on 5 situation - which is what it typically felt like when Ritchie was on the ice.

I honestly think he was overwhelmed here. He didn't hit. He didn't check. He didn't engage. Like he was so afraid to make a mistake that he made the mistake of doing nothing at all.
- Monkeypunk

It's funny to see that he had 79 hits in his 33 games here. I imagine plenty of those supposed hits were well after (or behind) the play and were largely ineffective.... which is, ironically, a damning testament per the utility of the stat.

Having said that, hope he continues to play well for ARZ.

Ritchie hasn't had any big success in his entire career outside of those first 25 games in Boston where he was on their top PP (one of the best in the league) and had an unsustainable shooting percentage. The rest of the time he's a big lumbering 4th liner.
- AdamFrench

8P in 12 games with Arizona.

If he keeps that up he’ll be 50+ points next year for them. (Roughly 55P pace for all 82 games)

Which makes him a decent, above average second line winger (average is 34-49P) making him a deal for what he’s getting paid.

EDIT: he’s been bumped down to the third line recently so his point production may dwindle a touch.

8P in 12 games with Arizona.

If he keeps that up he’ll be 50+ points next year for them. (Roughly 55P pace for all 82 games)

Which makes him a decent, above average second line winger (average is 34-49P) making him a deal for what he’s getting paid.
- Dozzer

He was a PPG the first 20 games in Boston basically. How did that keeping up work for him? Remember when Lee Stempniak went to the Yotes and scored 13 goals in 17 games or something. "If" he kept that up the next year he would be a 65 goal scorer!

win/win for both teams but still mad at them for snagging the goalie from the Leafs.
- dmnted

I think Dubas said he thought there might have been 5 or 6 claims for Sateri. A bit of a kick to the balls though that it was ARZ who snagged him. Guess they thought they didn't owe us anything after the Ritchie trade (of which the Hutton trade was a past-considerations type trade).

He was a PPG the first 20 games in Boston basically. How did that keeping up work for him?
- AdamFrench

I’m not claiming he’s a PPG player… but 0.667 PPG isn’t anything out of a player’s range.

8P in 12 games with Arizona.

If he keeps that up he’ll be 50+ points next year for them. (Roughly 55P pace for all 82 games)

Which makes him a decent, above average second line winger (average is 34-49P) making him a deal for what he’s getting paid.

EDIT: he’s been bumped down to the third line recently so his point production may dwindle a touch.
- Dozzer

I think he's been playing, for the most part, on the 3rd and 4th lines. He had some reps on the 1st line a couple of games IIRC where he (very predictably) didn't produce.

I’m not claiming he’s a PPG player… but 0.667 PPG isn’t anything out of a player’s range.
- Dozzer

It is for him historically.

I think he's been playing, for the most part, on the 3rd and 4th lines. He had some reps on the 1st line a couple of games IIRC where he (very predictably) didn't produce.
- mjones242

Until recently every time I took a look dailyfaceoff had him on the second line, now it shows him on the third with Hayton and Eriksson.

What line he’s been playing on doesn’t really matter tho… all I’m saying is he has produced for them at a pace that makes 2.5 million look like a good contract.

I’m not claiming he’s a PPG player… but 0.667 PPG isn’t anything out of a player’s range.
- Dozzer

Less impressed by what Ritchie is doing on Arizona than what Laboosh has done with the Leafs. While Laboosh has been a solid, hard hitting RHD (something not seen in Leafland for a while)Ritchie is racking up points on a team that is already eliminated from post season. So Laboosh is doing better than expected for a team in contention, while Ritchie is doing better than expected on a bad team during "garbage time"

It is for him historically.
- AdamFrench

Who knows? Maybe he’s just the type of guy who thrives playing for a team that doesn’t get much media attention. As absurd as it sounds there are some NHLers who play better in quiet markets (the best production for him was in Anaheim and now Arizona for instance)

Less impressed by what Ritchie is doing on Arizona than what Laboosh has done with the Leafs. While Laboosh has been a solid, hard hitting RHD (something not seen in Leafland for a while)Ritchie is racking up points on a team that is already eliminated from post season. So Laboosh is doing better than expected for a team in contention, while Ritchie is doing better than expected on a bad team during "garbage time"
- winsix

This isn’t about who won the trade.

Lyubushkin is playing fantastic, agreed. All I’m saying is Ritchie hasn’t been terrible for the Coyotes either.

GMs are going to discuss the LTIR “Kuch rule” at their upcoming meeting. A few are unhappy about it. Daly has said in the past it can be addressed in the next CBA. Let’s see if they can do something before then

This isn’t about who won the trade.

Lyubushkin is playing fantastic, agreed. All I’m saying is Ritchie hasn’t been terrible for the Coyotes either.
- Dozzer

Agree with that, but there really is less pressure in Ritchie's situation. Wish him well, I'm sure he really wanted to do well for the Leafs, it didn't work out.

This isn’t about who won the trade.

Lyubushkin is playing fantastic, agreed. All I’m saying is Ritchie hasn’t been terrible for the Coyotes either.
- Dozzer

He has been producing in a small sample size.

If any team trades for him next deadline and expects him to be anything else other than a 4th liner who can throw some hits and possibly play on PP2 if he is even a fit then it would be silly.

GMs are going to discuss the LTIR “Kuch rule” at their upcoming meeting. A few are unhappy about it. Daly has said in the past it can be addressed in the next CBA. Let’s see if they can do something before then
- Canada Cup

Just make it that cap space is still a thing until round 2 or 3...will completely eliminate teams from taking star players out so they are back in round 1.

Less impressed by what Ritchie is doing on Arizona than what Laboosh has done with the Leafs. While Laboosh has been a solid, hard hitting RHD (something not seen in Leafland for a while)Ritchie is racking up points on a team that is already eliminated from post season. So Laboosh is doing better than expected for a team in contention, while Ritchie is doing better than expected on a bad team during "garbage time"
- winsix

I’m very happy with him. Had no expectations. He does have a bit of trouble with the rush and was beaten to the outside last night. The physicality and his ability to close out the cycle is great. I’m not convinced he stays with Morgan but that depends on who’s healthy.

Agree with that, but there really is less pressure in Ritchie's situation. Wish him well, I'm sure he really wanted to do well for the Leafs, it didn't work out.
- winsix

I’m starting to see him as a guy who can’t handle playing in a high pressure market.

He has been producing in a small sample size.

If any team trades for him next deadline and expects him to be anything else other than a 4th liner who can throw some hits and possibly play on PP2 if he is even a fit then it would be silly.
- Santo_44

As I’ve said a couple times now I think he plays decently in smaller markets. As soon as he’s in a bigger one he seems to be a complete flop.

As I’ve said a couple times now I think he plays decently in smaller markets. As soon as he’s in a bigger one he seems to be a complete flop.
- Dozzer

Had his best statistical season on the Bruins so idk, doubt it.

He just is what he is.