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A deeper dive into the NY Islanders newest prospect Calum Ritchie

A look at the NY Islanders new top prospect, Calum Ritchie
ByMichael Stahurski|
Oct 14, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Calum Ritchie (71) controls the puck in the second period against the New York Islanders at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Oct 14, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Calum Ritchie (71) controls the puck in the second period against the New York Islanders at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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Ritchie's most distinguishable attribute is his hockey IQ. Ritchie’s reactions adapt well to the game's speed, registering the landscape of the game quite well, as his hockey IQ is off the charts. He seems to always be positioned where he needs to be, resulting in him having a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

“The hallmark of Ritchie’s game is his hockey sense," said Lauren Kelly, OHL scout for EP Rinkside before the 2023 NHL Draft. "It allows him to play a mature, well-rounded game, through his proactive play selection. He disrupts plays, wins body positioning, and demonstrates handling skills in tight.”

Known more as a playmaker, Ritchie is capable of distributing the puck to open wingers and defensemen who put themselves in ideal positions to score. His 53 assists are 11th best in the OHL this season, but he has played fewer games than the rest within the top 20.

Ritchie is ineligible to join the Islanders this season as he's already played in NHL games this season before being returned to Oshawa. But he'll be given every opportunity to make this Islanders team out of training camp.

“They (the Avalanche) put a lot of belief in me, selecting me in the draft," Ritchie said before this season's training camp. "I owe it to them to work as hard as I can every single day and be an impact (player) for this organization one day,” Ritchie said. “Being around this environment, you try to soak everything in. Workouts. Skates. We have all these meetings. (It’s about) what it takes to play in this league.”

A bottom-dwelling prospect pool over the last number of years, the Islanders have fortified their pool with Ritchie's acquisition. Joining Eiserman, the organization now has two top 20 prospects, plus Quinn Finley who has taken a massive step in the right direction in his development after the season he's having at Wisconsin University.

All in all, the Islanders recouped massive assets in return for one of the organization's most beloved players.

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