Line Change

I think this is the best option right now. I don't want to pile on the guy, and nothing that has gone wrong this season is his fault, but Ritchie is just not a piece that fits this puzzle. He doesn't fit the mold of a complimentary player that you want in the top 6 on this team, his defensive prowess and ability to breakout and get the puck moving up the ice isn't strong enough for that 3rd line, and there just isn't room on this team for a $2.5m 4th liner.

I know they want that 3rd line to look like Kerfoot-Kampf-Kase, but right now the top priority needs to be getting the top 6 clicking, and moving Kerfoot up is the best chance to do that at the moment. He's had chemistry with JT and Willy before, so even if you don't switch Nylander and Marner, there might be enough of a different feel to get it going.

At the end of the day, if you want this team to be able to play to it's potential, I think you have to move Ritchie.

I think you swap Kerfoot and bunting. That second line is working well and why screw up what works. That position works better for Ritchie and his game anyway. He looks lost where he is and he's a power forward old NHL kinda dude that's suited to the fourth with Spezza anyway. Give the fourth line extra minutes. Ten and a half minutes a game would be good and Spezza and Simmonds are producing.