In this video, I go over the Maple Leafs signing forwards Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase! I use advanced analytics as well as contextual stats to do a deep dive on where they’ll fit with the team and why I like these moves. I also show how the salary cap situation breaks and talk about what the Leafs may do next!
@Carolina Hurricanes
22 Comments
Roberston needs to be on the team this year????
Ritchie has an under rated shot. He has the potential to hit 30 taking marner or nylander feeds because he can shoot, tip and crash the net. Just needs to not be lazy and stay motivated
There is so much potential in these signings. Kase , Ritchie and possibly Ho-Sang could become big assets for the Leafs !
Bootleg Steve dangles
I think you're under-valuing Mikheyev's value. He should never be placed on a scoring line—because, no matter what, the puck follows him around like he's a magnet whenever he's on the ice—& we all know he's incapable of putting it into the back of the net. However, on an energy line, his speed and forechecking skills are clutch. Even if you know his shooting percentage is gonna be under 5%, he eats-up minutes up & gives the big boys time to rest, all without hurting the team. And, of course, he's a decent penalty killer. For all that: $1.6 mil really isn't too much to pay (especially since he's so consistent). Now Engvall is a different story—and his attributes can definitely be replaced for a league min salary. But slotting Mikheyev in at 3LW or 4LW, to my eyes, should be a lock.
Leafs are known to do WONDERS????? Yeah the playoff record backs that up. Lets face it the Leafs need new management AND a complete re-build.
I don't know about Ritchie… not sold on him, and he gets 2.5M x 2, way more than I thought Ritchie would get on the open market. Hopefully I'm wrong, and he can slot in as a 3rd line LW. He does bring much needed physical presence. His laziness to even to pretend to back check bothers me. At any rate, Leafs have enough horses in the stable now, so they can start to shop Engvall and Mikhayev around for some mid round picks. Leafs need cap space
Robertson and Joey Anderson still for even more depth
Did you know Ritchie – Bunting and Jared McCann all played together in the O? I see the leafs trying to trade Kerfoot for McCann and add Engvall or Mikheyev to dump some cap with it.. what do you think?
All 3 played for the Soo if I’m correct…
I would be getting rid of Mikheyev and signing Gusev to league min. Time and time again soup hasnt lived up. Gusev was close to top scorer on NJ Devils a couple years ago. And cheap deal.
Your getting better with every video buddy . Keep it up ,,,
Dubas overpaid for “skill and talent” but is now paying minimum for “fundamentals and execution”” ?
It’s like buying the finest tools but having to pay for other people, cheap to know how too properly use them ?
Translation : No playoff compete level
The maple leafs really should be Stanley Cups contenders this upcoming season I sense the championship drought is coming to an end really soon.. so I have very high expectations for leafs this year our team just needs to get passed the first series round and we will finally be on our way.. maple Leafs had a great season last year depsite poor play in the post season but I really feel like our team is on the rise.. and we should get back to kicking people's ass like we should.. I am just ready for this drought to end.. so I believe 2021 will be out best chance to finally break this 54 year old curse..
Hopefully Ritchie turns out to be a Tom Wilson type player on this roster. He'll have a lot of good passers
It’s crazy how Dubas is turning this team into a North American team. But drafted almost all Overseas players the draft before this one Almost all his signings have been Canadian born guys. A side from Kase and Mrazek. And he also chose to protect Kerfoot. A Canadian player. And who’s he on the outs with it seems… a non NA player Mikheyev. So check out their Roster . Matthews-USA, Campbell -USA , Holl -USA , they traded for Noesen -USA, Canadians – Tavares, Marner, Amadio, Brooks, Bunting, Brodie, Biega, Dermott, Gabriel, Hollowell , Kerfoot, Hutton was Canadian, Reilly , Ritchie , Simmonds, Spezza, Thornton was Canadian. Now the OTHER way the non NA players , Nylander, Sandin, Mrazek, Mikheyev, Kase, Kampf , Gogolev ,Engvall, Liljgren. I’m not sure if Dubas has a thing for Canadian and American players , or if he just try’s to take advantage of the fact the guys want to come “home” to hopefully sign them cheaper. I don’t know. But the team seems to be 75% or more North American born
Next Move: Morgan Reilly and a conditional first and second rounder next year for Jack Eichel. Sandin takes Morgan’s spot on the roster. Leafs let Jack get the surgery and Jack returns in March after a stint on LTIR. Leafs will need to free up cap space next summer…. But imagine Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, AND Eichel for next years playoffs? Play-off scoring issues solved. Conditional picks awarded if Eichel recovers from surgery and resumes career (minimum 25 games)
Hoping to see a Brennan Menell analysis, he might be a depth signing but he definitely has upside and is a value signing, he's only gotten better every year since being passed on in the draft so I wonder if he has more to give
Habs are still better.
Whats the deal with Ho-sang. I've read about attitude etc. Did he play the wing with Tavares in NY? Any updates on gally?
Where you at brother? a week between videos? Go on vacation or so mething I been checking back almost everyday!!
Nick Richie < Milian Lucic
Well shit