Deals help create financial flexibility
In his final game as a Duck, on Sunday against Vegas, Nick Ritchie recorded two goals and two assists.
He won’t be needed to deliver such performances with the Bruins — that’s David Pastrnak’s department — but if Ritchie’s crashing and banging creates a few goals in the months ahead, so be it.
“Interior ice play, size and strength, net-front play, contested puck battles,” said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, ticking off some of the reasons he shipped Danton Heinen to the Ducks for Brett Ritchie’s younger, more accomplished brother before Monday’s trade deadline.
The Bruins didn’t bolster the back end, believing there’s enough in reserve to get through the grittiest time of the season. Connor Clifton is on the way back, Jeremy Lauzon has played with bite, and there’s Steven Kamper, Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril down on the farm. Maybe Kevan Miller will suit up again, and what a pleasant return that would be.
Sweeney did upgrade his forward group in a similar manner as last season’s trade deadline, when a pair of deals brought him brawn (Charlie Coyle) and skill (Marcus Johansson) for draft picks and a stagnant young player (Ryan Donato).
The sum of the two separate moves in the last four days: Ondrej Kase and Ritchie for a 2020 firstround pick, Heinen, David Backes and defense prospect Axel Andersson.
While Kase, who last played Feb. 7, is unlikely to face the Flames on Tuesday, TD Garden could see Ritchie lined up at left wing on the third line. Ritchie was traveling to Boston on Monday and expected to join the team at Tuesday’s morning skate.
Sweeney was looking at more accomplished wingers, such as the Rangers’ Chris Kreider and Devils’ Kyle Palmieri, but opted to use the major chip that would attract a bigger name — his first-round pick — to help convince the Ducks to take on threequarters of Backes’ $6 million cap hit.
Sweeney has to think about the books, too, particularly given his ongoing negotiations with Torey Krug and the fact the Bruins, before Kase and Ritchie debut, were No. 1 in the NHL with 90 points.
They didn’t necessarily have to add a major piece, such as Kreider, to make a run. They were in need of NHL-tested forwards, and 24-year-olds Kase and Ritchie fit that bill.
Kase brings speed and a willing trigger to the right side, likely with David Krejci as his center. And if he does nothing else during the stretch run, he can at least help the Bruins break that shootout hex (he is 4-for-5 in shootout attempts this season, 7-for-14 career).
Ritchie, two years younger, 2 inches shorter (6-feet-2) and 15 pounds heavier (230) than Brett, is a bit sharper in his skill, enough to earn the 10th overall slot in the 2014 draft, 15 picks before the Bruins took Pastrnak and the same year the Ducks grabbed Kase (205th overall) in the seventh round.
Ritchie, who has an 8-11— 19 line in 41 games this season, is a statistical wash with Heinen (7-15—22 in 58 games), who is defensively responsible and versatile but has regressed from his 47-point rookie season three years ago.
The Bruins helped themselves after the season. Kase costs $2.6 million through 2021, some $200,000 less than Heinen. Ritchie, who makes about $1.5 million, is also signed through 2021. Both will be restricted free agents that summer. The Bruins will retain $1.5 million of Backes’ deal through ’21.
The Bruins, now with some $5.25 million in cap space, freed up about $2 million. Next up: Torey Krug, who next year could be cashing tickets worth between $6 million and $8 million.
The Bruins’ final offer, whenever they make it, will not likely be at the high end of that range.