Brett Ritchie
The Bruins brought in Brett Ritchie this offseason as a low risk, high reward signing. So far, it’s paid off only a little. He has one goal in four games.
Dallas drafted Ritchie in the second round in 2011, but he never really found his game. He did score 16 goals in the 2016-2017 season, but he regressed in the next two years.
The Bruins hope that Ritchie can flash that second-round pedigree and produce for them this season.
Ritchie is pretty much the complete opposite player compared to Kuhlman. Unlike Kuhlman, Ritchie has great size and plays best when he’s physical. He had at least 120 hits in each of the last three seasons.
That said, Ritchie isn’t a great skater. On the third line this year, he’s seemed to slow down Charlie Coyle and Danton Heinen. And in limited action with Krejci and DeBrusk, Ritchie hasn’t really looked the part.
Cassidy could give Ritchie a longer look on the second line if Kuhlman struggles. He’s size and space could open space to Krejci and DeBrusk. That said, Ritchie seems destined for the bottom-six.