Mattias Ritola reportedly on waivers

I’ve always been a fan of Ritola and his play. Not to mention, him being a former Red Wing.. figured he’d be a great fit down here and have plenty of assets to bring with him down here to Tampa, including some needed play off experience.

I’ve always thought Boucher shared my sentiments about Ritola, mainly due to how he would speak about him in interviews. A bit like this one: published TODAY by Erlendsson on TBO.com

One change Lightning coach Guy Boucher did make for the game was inserting LW Mattias Ritola into the lineup while taking out C Tom Pyatt as the coaching staff continues to tackle the challenge of not letting players sit for too long. Ritola appeared in four of the first 11 games and had not played since the home opener on Oct. 17.

“It’s not because Pyatt isn’t playing well, I just don’t want to lose Rito,‘’ Boucher said. "Rito hasn’t played in a while and in the games he’s played he’s played really well. We all know that we have a bunch of extra forwards since we kept (rookie Brett) Connolly, and at this point of the year I don’t want to lose any guys.’’

I understand the situation but this doesn’t make much sense, if you ask me. Especially when interviews like this are printed on the same day. Apparently “Rito” understands the situation as well.. he went on to say this:

“I feel that I can play in this league, but I just have to figure some things out and that’s what I’m doing every day,‘’ Ritola said. "I have to do the right things all the time, and for three periods instead of two, and do it every game instead of every other game.’’

You gotta feel for the guy, who hasn’t even had much of a chance to even prove himself so, far this season. I guess the bottom line is this.. the force works in mysterious ways. Things go on everyday behind the scenes, that us fans, may not understand or agree with. Like when the Red Wings put preseason whizz Fabian Brunnstrom on waivers last week (which thankfully he cleared) …I guess that’s why we’re the fans and they make the “big bucks” aka… we as fans have to believe in the fact JM & Co. know what the hell they’re doing. This fan does(now).

As much as anything, this says they want Ritola to be playing rather than going on popcorn patrol. I don’t see it as a knock on his game or a step backward as much as a sign that the team wants him to be around for a while and that they’re still very invested in him.

Having watched Ritola at Norfolk last year, he’ll be great for the Ads offense.

I think more and more Ritola is going to be one of those fringe players (does great in the AHL, slightly below average in the NHL) for quite some time. A year or two more, and he’ll be more complete a player than he is now.

Finally. Ritola was such a crutch to the Bolts. He isn’t even close to the level of play Pyatt and Jones are at. I always face palmed when I saw him in the line up and was well aware it was going to be a long night.

Ritola cleared waivers.