Maple Leafs looking to move on from struggling forward

It's safe to say the Nick Ritchie experiment in Toronto isn't going as many fans had expected. After a strong 2020-21 campaign with the Boston Bruins, one that saw him set a career-high in goals with 15, the Newmarket native signed a two-year contract worth $5 million with the Maple Leafs in late-July.

Now it appears that the Maple Leafs are looking to move on from the struggling forward, who was sent down to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on February 2nd following the dissolution of taxi squads.

"First of all in Toronto, Nick Ritchie's in the American Hockey League right now. There's no official trade request, but I think everybody here understands it might be better to find him somewhere else to play and I think there has been some traction in the last few days around the league," Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts segment on Hockey Night in Canada.

Friedman added, "If, for argument's sake the Maple Leafs were to buy him out, it would be $300,000 on next year's cap. So, I don't think Toronto wants to retain anything more than that (in a trade). But, depending on how this can all go and how that can be worked out, it is believed there is some traction being gained on Ritchie around the league in clearing some room and finding him some space."

In 33 games this season with the Maple Leafs, Ritchie has nine points (two goals, seven assists), twenty-three penalty minutes and is a minus-six.

The Maple Leafs are shopping around demoted winger Nick Ritchie.https://t.co/7LlZue02on— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 13, 2022

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