#3. Brett Ritchie
Coming off a one-year $1M deal, Ritchie will most likely be looking at a league minimum contract, as he split time in the NHL and AHL last year with the Boston Bruins organization.
The Orangeville, ON native was a stud in junior but hasn’t quite lived up to expectations after being drafted 44th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. At this point in his career, Ritchie is what we call a ‘tweener.’
If we compare him to a current Toronto Maple Leafs player, he’s like Nic Petan or Kenny Agostino. Both players are first-line options in the AHL, but are fourth-line players or healthy scratches in the NHL. After having a breakout 2016-17 season scoring 16 goals with the Dallas Stars, Ritchie hasn’t been able to replicate that again.
Although he’s only had six goals and 12 points over a span of his last two NHL seasons, Ritchie brings a different element to the Leafs organization if the team wanted to pursue him. He’s 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and is much bigger than the other forwards competing for a fourth-line spot. He can also drops the gloves when needed.
The 27-year-old right-winger should understand that he’s not going to get many more shots to crack an NHL line-up and whatever team decides to sign him could be his last opportunity to make the big bucks. A two-way contract for Ritchie could add great depth to the Leafs organization and provide some size if the team wanted to go in that direction.