Leafs’ most scrutinized player Nick Ritchie hoping for more ups than downs the rest of the way

LAS VEGAS It has been a tricky month for Nick Ritchie.

Simply because the scoring was lastly beginning for the Maple Leafs winger, he discovered himself scratched for the primary time in blue and white on Jan. 1, a tricky capsule to swallow for any participant not to mention a former excessive draft choose in mid-career.

An harm to Ondrej Kaše meant he might play Jan. 5 once more towards the Oilers. He didn't look significantly good, the goat on a Brendan Perlini purpose. He logged 7:31 of ice time, his lowest complete of the season.

The subsequent day, he was on waivers.

“That’s information no hockey participant ever needs to listen to,” Ritchie mentioned Sunday after the staff had a brief observe at T-Cellular Area. “I’m simply attempting to work arduous, assist the staff. I’m nonetheless right here in Toronto, which is sweet.

However with Mitch Marner and Pierre Engvall the most recent to enter COVID-19 protocols, Ritchie stayed within the lineup towards Colorado. He scored a power-play purpose in Saturday’s 5-4 additional time loss, however he additionally took a penalty late within the third interval.

For Ritchie, for each up there’s been a down.

“It’s good to attain a purpose at any level, whether or not issues are going properly or not,” mentioned Ritchie. “Simply attempting to get my recreation so as and be somebody who can assist this staff within the second half. The manufacturing facet hasn’t been nice. I don’t assume it’s been all dangerous. I believe at occasions I’ve been taking part in good hockey. However it’s on me that I didn’t get off to a scorching begin, nevertheless it’s solely been 30 video games. Acquired numerous video games left, and many time to assist this staff.”

The Maple Leafs should hope so. Although his contract pales to the core gamers, his two-year, $5-million (U.S.) deal represents a cap hit of $2.5 million, a big quantity for a staff tight to the cap with gamers resembling Jack Campbell and Ilya Mikheyev hitting unrestricted free company this summer season.

The construction of the wage — $1.7 million this yr, $3.3 million subsequent yr — would possibly scare off some takers, if the Leafs attempt to discover a option to transfer him. Definitely all the league handed on Ritchie final week when he cleared waivers.

Ritchie, for higher or worse, stays a Leaf. And no participant could also be underneath extra scrutiny in Toronto than Ritchie, one of many few gamers on the staff who may be labeled as an underachiever. Whereas different summertime free-agent signings like Michael Bunting and David Kämpf play to optimistic opinions, Ritchie at this level appears to be like like a uncommon free agent miss.

All eyes are on him — particularly as he struggles — together with the watchful certainly one of coach Sheldon Keefe.

“When a participant goes via this, you have a tendency to only watch him from a distance (to see) how is he interacting with the fellows. What’s his temper like? Is it altering (versus) how he was (behaving) earlier to that?” mentioned Keefe.

However Ritchie’s temper appears tremendous, mentioned Keefe. “Nothing’s actually modified within the sense of what he’s been like across the staff and his teammates. He’s a well-liked man. That’s why everybody was so completely happy to see him rating. So I believe he’s coping with it about in addition to he might.”

His teammates are serving to him out.

“You simply attempt to reinforce positivity,” mentioned defenceman Morgan Rielly. “He’s an important teammate. He got here into our group fairly seamlessly. And he’s labored arduous day-after-day. He scored a giant purpose (towards Colorado), underneath clearly not nice circumstances. That (happening waivers) may be tough. And I believe he’s dealt with it nice.”

Offence was purported to be a part of Ritchie’s recreation, and he projected himself to have greater than two objectives at this juncture of the season. However if you wish to have a look at the intense facet, the 2 objectives have are available his final 5 video games.

And he attracts a crowd together with his physicality. Generally his arduous work goes unnoticed as a result of inflicting the display screen, or drawing the penalty, will get no credit score on the scoresheet for the purpose that goes in.

“Everybody goes via ups and downs of their profession, of their season,” mentioned Ritchie. “It’s a humorous factor typically, nevertheless it’s simply arduous work that’s going to get your self out of it.

“You simply should preserve working arduous. Coaches and teammates can assist with that. Generally you get to a degree the place it begins clicking. There are such a lot of little issues you are able to do to play good hockey, and I believe that’s coming.”

• Jack Campbell turned 30 on Sunday. Campbell and Auston Matthews got the day without work for upkeep, mentioned Keefe.

• Kase practised previous to the principle group, a session Keefe mentioned went properly.

• Marner and Engvall remained in Toronto, neither experiencing any critical COVID signs. They could but rejoin the staff on this highway journey.