Heinen traded to Anaheim for Nick Ritchie

Jed Zeppelin

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He is large, and produces about as much as Heinen. Signed for cheap through next season.
 

Mueller's Twin Grannies

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So... the Bruins traded a 1st, a prospect, 75% of Backes's salary, Backes, and Heinen to the Ducks for Kase and Ritchie.

Is that a good deal all around? Why not just put them in the same original trade?
 

Salem's Lot

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He is large, and produces about as much as Heinen. Signed for cheap through next season.
He’s also related to the stiff they just sent to Providence. I don’t get it. Maybe try a different blood line?

All jokes aside, if he can get in on the forecheck and drop the gloves when necessary, I like the move.
 

cshea

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I hope this is a precursor to opening up some cap space for something else.

Otherwise - don’t see the point.
I think he’s a better fit right now than Heinen. Scores a bit more, plays a more physical game. Heinen has been in the doghouse lately too.
 

BigMike

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I think the Bruins are giving up the better player in this deal, but at the same time Bjork and Heinen are a bit redundant, and Ritchie brings some size they lack.
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Only thing I can (sort of) think of - this is a reaction to being bullied in last years SCF. If he produces at the same level as Heinen, but may actually play a bit more of a punishing game - Sweeney/Neely see value in that.
 

Salem's Lot

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Only thing I can (sort of) think of - this is a reaction to being bullied in last years SCF. If he produces at the same level as Heinen, but may actually play a bit more of a punishing game - Sweeney/Neely see value in that.
I think this is spot on. They wanted a guy who could respond by hitting the opponents skill guys when guys like Ryan O’Reilly start running around hitting our guys.
 

lexrageorge

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I get the feeling that the Bruins were trying to see what value they could get for Heinen, as I'm not sure he was in their plans very much going forward. At least Ritchie provides an element that they lack, and is a lateral move in terms of overall goal production.

Wouldn't surprise me if the big deal fell through for whatever reason (probably asking price), and so the two moves at least are an honest attempt to address the team's two weaknesses (bottom 6 size and 2nd line RW) while also enabling them to keep the puck rolling again for the 2020-21 season.
 

burstnbloom

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They absolutely could use a large, physical player. We have been lamenting Kevan Miller's absence for a full calendar year and relying on geezers to drop the gloves when needed.
I get this, but I don't know that this is Nick Ritchie either. He fights once or twice a year. He does hit. He's like a poor man's Patrick Maroon.
 

PedroSpecialK

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No issue with this. Was a fan of Heinen's but he's been hot and cold, and I agree with the assessment that his game doesn't fit the playoff pace as well as we'd like.

Ritchie - Coyle - Bjork will cause big headaches for opposing third d-pairs this postseason

~$850k in cap savings YoY is a nice bonus too
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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Only thing I can (sort of) think of - this is a reaction to being bullied in last years SCF. If he produces at the same level as Heinen, but may actually play a bit more of a punishing game - Sweeney/Neely see value in that.
They got bullied because Berube whined to the media about penalties and mysteriously the refs immediately stopped calling penalties against St. Louis. I'm not sure that would happen again this year. Different actors, a different year.
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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They got bullied because Berube whined to the media about penalties and mysteriously the refs immediately stopped calling penalties against St. Louis. I'm not sure that would happen again this year. Different actors, a different year.
I mean, sure. That’s the logical way to look at this.

This is also the team that traded a 3rd for Rinaldo, and signed Brett Ritchie in the off-season.

I’m not working on the assumption they use logic when it comes to on ice physicality.
 

Red Right Ankle

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He’s also related to the stiff they just sent to Providence. I don’t get it. Maybe try a different blood line?

All jokes aside, if he can get in on the forecheck and drop the gloves when necessary, I like the move.
Donnie can't spell and is trading for Nicole Richie next.
 

Zososoxfan

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They got bullied because Berube whined to the media about penalties and mysteriously the refs immediately stopped calling penalties against St. Louis. I'm not sure that would happen again this year. Different actors, a different year.
You're right, but when you're that close to the Cup, small tinkering like this may make the difference. Not saying I agree necessarily, but I like being a bit more well-rounded (at least in theory) since it didn't have any backslide in terms of quality (per reports) and is actually a cheaper avenue.
 

TFP

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I actually agree with them getting a bit more physical. I'm usually very anti that, but Tampa and Washington are both big, strong teams similar to last year's Blues. They don't have anyone to match up to that, so bringing in an option who doesn't suck (who you aren't required to play every night) is totally ok with me. I was a big Heinen fan, but I don't think he is going to be the difference this year or moving forward.
 

LogansDad

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I'm okay with this. I like Heinen, but I really feel like his development has stalled over the last year, and he completely disappears at times. I honestly think Bjork is the better player at this point, and, probably, going forward. Both Ritchie and Kase played on a really, really bad team, so hopefully coming to a better situation will help them produce what it seems like they should be capable of. Or they could just be a big part of the suck, too.
 

durandal1707

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I think we've seen enough of Heinen to know that there's really not much more to his game. He's a 15 goal scorer (his high water mark is 16 from two years ago) and lately his analytics have been below average. Ritchie doesn't appear to be much of a goal scorer either, but his analytics are considerably better this year and he's $1m cheaper. It's a depth-for-depth move with both teams hoping that a change of scenery might help their new guys out.

As it stands right now though, the 3RW role is Kuhlman's until he loses it, IMO.
 

joe dokes

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I think we've seen enough of Heinen to know that there's really not much more to his game. He's a 15 goal scorer (his high water mark is 16 from two years ago) and lately his analytics have been below average. Ritchie doesn't appear to be much of a goal scorer either, but his analytics are considerably better this year and he's $1m cheaper. It's a depth-for-depth move with both teams hoping that a change of scenery might help their new guys out.
That's where I've been for a couple of months. And then in one of the recent games he seemed to take several hit-avoiding routes on 50-50 plays near the corners (as contrasted to Bjork, who goes straight into the muck), that the staff could not have been thrilled with.
 

veritas

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Heinen can be a frustrating player to watch, but overall he’s still pretty effective. It doesn’t seem like there were hard feelings based on Sweeney’s comments. Both of these players are good hockey players, I think Ritchie will be popular here.

Interestingly, Heinen the soft player is much better defensively and Ritchie the tough player is more of an offensive player
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Some thoughts on that video.

His shot is deceptively good. Not the quickest release, but seemingly very accurate and can disguse it enough to beat NHL level goaltending.

He throws some absolute BOMBS. He may be the best fighter the Bruins have had since McQuaid.
 

Maximus

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Glad Sweeney made the decision to move Heinen and not Bjork. Hopefully Nick is more productive than his brother. We do need some size and heavy play in the lineup and fingers crossed that we'll see Kevan Miller at some point.
 
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5dice

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Video could be summarized as "Presenting both things that Nick Ritchie does: goals from the circles and punches to the face."
 

veritas

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He might look like a good shooter in the highlights but historically he is consistently pretty bad at shooting, but makes up for it by generating lots of good shots
 

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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He might look like a good shooter in the highlights but historically he is consistently pretty bad at shooting, but makes up for it by generating lots of good shots
So...he's bad a shooting, but makes up for it by generating lots of good shots.

You'll excuse me if I have no clue what the fuck that means.