Anthony Travalgia: Bruins don’t extend qualifying offers to Nick Ritchie, Ondrej Kase

Don't qualify the guy who offers a physical presence and can chip in with much needed goals.

But hey - Bruins still have two of the players picked in that amazing 2015 Draft.

Another Sweeney blunder. With Hall maybe they get 1st overall next year. The Getzlaf and Yandle contracts should be hilarious though

Don't qualify the guy who offers a physical presence and can chip in with much needed goals.

But hey - Bruins still have two of the players picked in that amazing 2015 Draft.


- Nasty_Duck

Do you think Ritchie is worth north of $4M per? After the 15 goal season that's likely where arbitration was going to put him. Let someone else overpay for him.

No way am I tendering $2.6M on Kase. Hold out and will likely be able to sign him for way less (maybe even <$1M) once FA starts. I doubt he's going to get many offers.

Do you think Ritchie is worth north of $4M per? After the 15 goal season that's likely where arbitration was going to put him. Let someone else overpay for him.

No way am I tendering $2.6M on Kase. Hold out and will likely be able to sign him for way less (maybe even <$1M) once FA starts. I doubt he's going to get many offers.
- bluemoon737

I don't care about Kase.

As for Ritchie he made < 1.5M last year. His 15 G / 26 P are not getting him to 4M.

They could still resign them. Maybe whatever the qualifying offer totaled up to was higher than what they wanted to pay them.

I imagine a bunch of teams will be willing to take a chance on Kase

I don't care about Kase.

As for Ritchie he made < 1.5M last year. His 15 G / 26 P are not getting him to 4M.
- Nasty_Duck

Ritchie's qualifying offer was $2M with arbitration rights which would have guaranteed north of $3M and probably close to $4M. If you head down that route, the only way to keep him is pay that amount. By not tendering him, you at least have a shot at signing him for less (more in-line with what he's worth). However, doubt he is willing now based on the lack of tender. He's a big body yes, but didn't always play that way.

so sweeneys goal was to trick the Kraken into taking Richie, or steer them away from Richie, even though they can now sign Richie?

Rare Sweeney W

Saw this and first reaction was ...WTF...but after digesting, Ritchie clearly isn't worth more than $2.5. His effort and focus just arent there...having said that, who's going to bring some physicality on this roster? Doesn't look very promising for a team thats been physically over matched in a VERY clear way post season after post season...now to lose Lauzon and Ritchie. Sweeney has some work to do...especially on the blueline...and sorry guys Derek Forbert is NOT the answer.
Slim pickings available...Sweeney better be able to pull a rabbit out of his a$$

so sweeneys goal was to trick the Kraken into taking Richie, or steer them away from Richie, even though they can now sign Richie?
- 77emac77

Lol, wut?

By announcing he’s not tendering RiTchie, Sweeney guarantees kraken don’t take him. By implying he will tender Ritchie, there’s at least a chance the kraken would take him over Lauzon. Make sense?

Don't qualify the guy who offers a physical presence and can chip in with much needed goals.

But hey - Bruins still have two of the players picked in that amazing 2015 Draft.


- Nasty_Duck

I liked Ritchie when he made 1.5 and could be scratched or moved down the lineup. Ritchie at 3.5 if useless. He’s a nice niche player, but paying niche players forces them out of their niche and into prominent roles where they suck. What exactly does this have to do with 2015 btw?

I liked Ritchie when he made 1.5 and could be scratched or moved down the lineup. Ritchie at 3.5 if useless. He’s a nice niche player, but paying niche players forces them out of their niche and into prominent roles where they suck. What exactly does this have to do with 2015 btw?
- Shaundre93

The first round of 2015 draft is a sensitive issue for many of us

I liked Ritchie when he made 1.5 and could be scratched or moved down the lineup. Ritchie at 3.5 if useless. He’s a nice niche player, but paying niche players forces them out of their niche and into prominent roles where they suck. What exactly does this have to do with 2015 btw?
- Shaundre93

The 3 1st round draft picks in a row (none of which were Barzal)?

And none of which are doing much for the Bruins now...

DeBrusk and Senyshyn were two of those picks.

I think the Bruins will be just fine without Thick Nick. He had a solid start to the season last year then faded. The year before he barely looked like he belonged in the NHL.

If you want a big body, go get Getzlaf with that money.

Lol, wut?

By announcing he’s not tendering RiTchie, Sweeney guarantees kraken don’t take him. By implying he will tender Ritchie, there’s at least a chance the kraken would take him over Lauzon. Make sense?

Yeah, because the new Kraken GM is so new & green, he would never pick up on a Sweeney sidestep!

I think the Bruins will be just fine without Thick Nick. He had a solid start to the season last year then faded. The year before he barely looked like he belonged in the NHL.

If you want a big body, go get Getzlaf with that money.
- Mahewman

In 48 games last year Getzlaf had 5 goals. He's 36. How much you think he will improve?

Lol, wut?

By announcing he’s not tendering RiTchie, Sweeney guarantees kraken don’t take him. By implying he will tender Ritchie, there’s at least a chance the kraken would take him over Lauzon. Make sense?
- Shaundre93

ok,.. put that way, .. it makes more sense. But man, a onetime 15 goal scorer is gonna get 4 mil in arbitration these days?

First Beleskey, then Backes... The Bruins don't need to ensure they overpay at least one 'thick strong forward' every year.

Keep him? Yes. At $4M (or higher)... no thank you.

ok,.. put that way, .. it makes more sense. But man, a onetime 15 goal scorer is gonna get 4 mil in arbitration these days?
- 77emac77

Yeah man, it seems agents are just ignoring the flat cap right now. Did you see goodrows contract? Gross. Idk if Ritchie gets 4 but he gets more than Craig smith and that’s a big no for me

Yeah man, it seems agents are just ignoring the flat cap right now. Did you see goodrows contract? Gross. Idk if Ritchie gets 4 but he gets more than Craig smith and that’s a big no for me
- Shaundre93

If this becomes first arbitration between Bruins and Ritchie, don't they get to walk away? Or is that only for RFAs?

In 48 games last year Getzlaf had 5 goals. He's 36. How much you think he will improve?
- Nasty_Duck

His numbers weren’t great last year but Anaheim was pretty dreadful. I think he would be a great depth piece

We need D Sweeney better find someone soon they are all signing somewhere else.

We need D Sweeney better find someone soon they are all signing somewhere else.
- blackbruin

Free agency hasn’t started.