Grading the Leafs: Nick Ritchie
When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Orangeville, Ontario native Nick Ritchie to a two-year, $5M deal this past offseason, there was a certain level of excitement among the team's vast fanbase, and rightfully so.
In Ritchie, the Leafs brought in a 6'3, 236-pound, heavy-hitting left winger with a mean streak to address a gaping hole on the left side after the departure of fan favourite Zach Hyman, who signed in Edmonton this summer.
Ritchie had just come off of a career high 15-goal season, suiting up in all 56 games for the Boston Bruins in 2020-21, which put him on pace for 22 goals over an 82-game season.
The 26-year-old received a fantastic opportunity, playing alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on the Leafs' top line in the early stages of the season, but after it became apparent that the chemistry simply wasn't there, Ritchie found himself sliding down the Leafs' depth chart.
While Ritchie had begun to produce in a depth role on the team's 4th line with Wayne Simmonds and Jason Spezza before the break, it wasn't really the role he was brought in to play, and his $2.5M AAV is likely exceeding what his actual on-ice value is at this point.
In 29 games with the Leafs this season, Ritchie has managed to score just one goal, adding 7 assists for 8 points over that span - a far cry from the 22-goal pace he was on last season as a member of the Bruins.
Grade: D
Ritchie has failed to meet expectations through 29 games, and although he has begun to produce with 3 points in his last 5 games, the early returns have been less than ideal.
The big winger has a little over half of the season remaining with which to increase the impact he has in the Leafs' lineup, otherwise, he could be used as trade bait at the deadline to address another roster need.
