Leafs acquire David Rittich

[Guilt Trip]

That clearly implies Freddy is done.  Have to figure they pick up a defenseman at the point.  Between Nash and Foligno (and Galchenyuk) that shores up the forward group.  Rittich gives them a backup or a really good 3rd goalie in the playoffs if Andersen is back. 

I don?t dislike Dermott but an upgrade there would go a long way to maximizing what this team can do.

I sure hope Andersen is back for the playoffs.  If Campbell gets hurt again I'd want Andersen over Rittich any day.

As for upgrading Dermott, I don't see any clear path to doing that, other than bringing up Sandin and hoping for the best.

Agree on the Andersen front. The Leafs do have cap space so they can get a D man..depends as always on the asking price.

 

[ZBBM]

As the guy on MLHS points out, Dubas may be angling for a Campbell/Rittich duo next season.  A lot depends on if Campbell is the real deal or whether he's on a J-S Aubin tear.

 

[Guilt Trip]

As the guy on MLHS points out, Dubas may be angling for a Campbell/Rittich duo next season.  A lot depends on if Campbell is the real deal or whether he's on a J-S Aubin tear.

I'm not sure on Rittich as a 1b.. I like Ullmark or Driedger more.

 

[Zee]

His first game for the Leafs should be tomorrow against the Flames

 

[bustaheims]

As the guy on MLHS points out, Dubas may be angling for a Campbell/Rittich duo next season.  A lot depends on if Campbell is the real deal or whether he's on a J-S Aubin tear.

I'm not sure on Rittich as a 1b.. I like Ullmark or Driedger more.

Same. Rittich is a good depth add for this season, but not a guy you want as more than a true backup. He?s not good enough to man the crease for any significant amount of games.

 

[Zee]

As the guy on MLHS points out, Dubas may be angling for a Campbell/Rittich duo next season.  A lot depends on if Campbell is the real deal or whether he's on a J-S Aubin tear.

I'm not sure on Rittich as a 1b.. I like Ullmark or Driedger more.

Same. Rittich is a good depth add for this season, but not a guy you want as more than a true backup. He?s not good enough to man the crease for any significant amount of games.

They're both UFAs (Rittich and Ullmark) so we'll see what happens here and they'll decide for next season when the time comes.

 

[Fanatic]

That clearly implies Freddy is done.

I?m not so sure. My guess would be that He plays a couple of games at the end of the season. That would allow Jack to be fully rested for the playoffs. If Freddie does well then he gets the chance to be the man, and if he doesn?t do well it?s easy to come right back to Jack.

I?m not a Freddie fan at all, but him coming back really strong us still the best case scenario for the Leafs.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

That clearly implies Freddy is done.

I?m not a Freddie fan at all, but him coming back really strong us still the best case scenario for the Leafs.

I agree. I think that of the 3 goalies, Andersen is the best goalie. He hasn't played like it though for 2+ seasons.
I really worry about the mental state of Andersen and if the Toronto situation has driven him over the edge.

 

[bustaheims]

I agree. I think that of the 3 goalies, Andersen is the best goalie. He hasn't played like it though for 2+ seasons.
I really worry about the mental state of Andersen and if the Toronto situation has driven him over the edge.

When he has his A game, he's absolutely the best goalie on the roster. As you suggest, we haven't seen enough of that for the past season and a half or so.

I do suspect the moves over the past few days suggest he won't be back in the regular season. Activating him from LTIR before the playoffs is now a bit of a cap headache.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I agree. I think that of the 3 goalies, Andersen is the best goalie. He hasn't played like it though for 2+ seasons.
I really worry about the mental state of Andersen and if the Toronto situation has driven him over the edge.

When he has his A game, he's absolutely the best goalie on the roster. As you suggest, we haven't seen enough of that for the past season and a half or so.

I do suspect the moves over the past few days suggest he won't be back in the regular season. Activating him from LTIR before the playoffs is now a bit of a cap headache.

What concerns me is the way things are being relayed to the media. It's very vague. And it's not "lower body injury" type of vague. It's "we want to go when Freddy feels he is ready to go".

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think Freddie is both mentally and physically drained. I think we're going to need him at some point. Campbell's game has shown cracks the last few and I see Rittich as just an upgrade over Hutch. We need a healthy Fred going into the playoffs.

 

[Fanatic]

Perhaps Freddie comes back and does a conditioning stint with the Marlies. Maybe that will help get him ready physically and mentally.

 

[herman]

I think going on the IR for a non-physical issue (i.e. mental) is valid, if that is what has happened here. Freddie toughed it out and clearly played injured to support the team while Campbell was sorting out his leg/hip, so while not the wisest thing, I respect that he tried to do what was best for his team.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think going on the IR for a non-physical issue (i.e. mental) is valid, if that is what has happened here. Freddie toughed it out and clearly played injured to support the team while Campbell was sorting out his leg/hip, so while not the wisest thing, I respect that he tried to do what was best for his team.

Freddie has done it many times over the years. He did it last year also. Remember the neck injury in Feb? He was playing hurt this year for quite a while because as you said Jack was hurt. Jack was off for almost 2 months this season and Freddie playing those 10 games in a row didn't help. I'm not too concerned about how he plays when he comes back. Last year after the Covid shutdown, he got healthy and played very well in the play ins. He can also do a stint on the Marlies to get some of his timing back.
I think a healthy Freddie gives us our best shot at winning and I've said it many times, I hope he can get healthy.

 

[L K]

Not a bad start for Rittich under the circumstances last night.  He's a UFA this year.  Career .907 SV% but that includes his games against the Leafs so really it's probably .850 against the rest of the league. 
Is he good enough to be a 1A/1B guy with Campbell next year.  The cap would probably benefit from a guy like him in that role to free up space for a Hyman extension.

Obviously we would have to see how the playoffs roll out and who knows, maybe Freddy takes a 1-year prove it deal next year that might be a more enticing upside consideration depending on how the rest of the year goes.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Not a bad start for Rittich under the circumstances last night.  He's a UFA this year.  Career .907 SV% but that includes his games against the Leafs so really it's probably .850 against the rest of the league. 
Is he good enough to be a 1A/1B guy with Campbell next year.  The cap would probably benefit from a guy like him in that role to free up space for a Hyman extension.

Obviously we would have to see how the playoffs roll out and who knows, maybe Freddy takes a 1-year prove it deal next year that might be a more enticing upside consideration depending on how the rest of the year goes.

I hope the Leafs aim higher then Rittich. Driedger is a UFA, Ullmark. There are other options.
I still think Freddie plays before the end of the year.