Cal Ritchie forcing NY Islanders coaching staff to make harder decisions

With the New York Islanders holding onto Jean-Gabriel Pageau — who is entering the final season of his deal — and moving Mathew Barzal back to his natural position at center, the team revealed where they see their future down the middle. It also shed light on what they want to find out about Cal Ritchie.

Ritchie, 20, is capable of playing wing — he played all seven of his NHL games last season with Colorado on the flank, scoring once against Ilya Sorokin — but Patrick Roy sees his true value at center. That’s why his preseason usage is so telling.

The 2023 first-rounder made an early statement in his Isles preseason debut, recording a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the Devils. He logged a team-high four shots and handled nearly 18 minutes of ice time, much of it against established NHL veterans like Nico Hischier. Roy praised his play, but more importantly, pointed to what he wants to see next.

“I thought he played really well against their top line. He’ll probably do the same today,” Roy said Thursday morning. “I want to see him keep playing that way and see how, when things aren’t going his way, how he’s going to react. And these are good things for us to see from him.”

The plan is straightforward: keep giving Ritchie opportunities and see where it goes. “I think we want him to play as much as possible [in the preseason], and we’ll go from there,” Roy said. “He’s probably not going to play tomorrow, but we want to see how he does. And yes, he’s going to play a lot of games. I think what he’s doing right now is just making our decision so much tougher, and that’s what you want.”

Make no mistake, the odds are long for Ritchie to crack the roster on Opening Night. The Islanders already have veterans locked into center roles, and the roster crunch is real. But it’s not impossible. Strong performances — combined with any injuries that arise — could create a path.

For now, Ritchie has positioned himself where every young player wants to be in September: forcing the coaching staff to make harder decisions.