If the Toronto Maple Leafs are to have any degree of flexibility to acquire players at the trade deadline, Nick Ritchie has to be moved out.
Inking the most expensive of the Toronto Maple Leafs free agent deals this off-season, Ritchie has ended up being the most underwhelming. Ondrej Kase, David Kampf and Michael Bunting have all performed considerably better.
Kyle Dubas took a punt on signing a two-year deal at $2.5 million a season on the basis of Ritchie’s 15 goals in 56 games with the Boston Bruins last year and it hasn’t panned out.
Now with him being buried in the minors, it’s become absolutely vital that the Toronto Maple Leafs find a trade partner.