Pucks of a Feather
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Anaheim Ducks: Three Players Bob Murray May Have Put On Notice

By Chris Bushell

ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 1: General Manager Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during a press conference announcing new head coach Bruce Boudreau after morning practice at Anaheim Ice on December 1,2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via GettyImages)
ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 1: General Manager Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during a press conference announcing new head coach Bruce Boudreau after morning practice at Anaheim Ice on December 1,2011 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via GettyImages) /
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Nick Ritchie

Anaheim Ducks
ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 16: Nick Ritchie #37 of the Anaheim Ducks is pushed by Igor Ozhiganov #92 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 16, 2018, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

The half the fan base loves him the half the fan base is done with him poster boy. Nick Ritchie was a top 10 draft pick for the Ducks in 2014 and despite some flashes of what he could be, he has never proved himself to be worth that pick. Ritchie was sold as a power forward type that had equal scoring touch as toughness. Someone that could get in on the forecheck and impose his will as well as put the puck in the net with good regularity. In his now 201 game NHL career he has a 30-39-69 line with a +10 rating. These are not eye-popping stats but okay numbers, and he is still only 23 years old. Perhaps a change of scenery would do Ritchie well.

After his nonsense holdout earlier this season, (don’t get me started on this), Ritchie signed a 3-year deal that will see his cap hit be 1.5 million over the life of the contract. This works out two-fold for the Ducks. One if they keep him its a very low cap hit allowing for other moves and to force him to earn his next pay-check. If they decide to move him a team taking on 1.5 million as a cap hit is a very workable number. And at the end of the deal, he is a restricted free agent as opposed to unrestricted giving the team more control. The Ducks aren’t trading away scoring necessarily by moving Ritchie just opening a forward spot up. I think Ritchie has his place and think he could blossom in the right situation. I just don’t believe that situation is with Anaheim anymore.

The Ducks gave Ritchie numerous chances and while he has proved to be serviceable I don’t think he is the end all be all. For the right deal, Ritchie should be moved and the Ducks don’t miss a beat. He may not get it done alone but he could be a key piece in bringing more scoring punch to Anaheim.

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