Cal Ritchie is turning towards Brayden Schenn for guidance in his second season with the NY Islanders

With a strong performance during his rookie season, there’s the expectation that Cal Ritchie will take another step in his development this season. An injury to Mat Barzal has kept him out of the lineup through the NY Islanders’ first five games, and Ritchie has been tasked with stepping into a top-6 role at center.

Playing alongside rookie Victor Eklund and Brayden Schenn, Ritchie has been able to lean on Schenn for advice.

“It helps a lot,” Ritchie said of Schenn after yesterday's morning skate. “Obviously, on the ice, shift to shift it helps a ton, and then just after shifts, you learn a lot from him... Especially for me and Eky as young guys going in the league. Just always asking questions with him helps us a lot, for sure.”

Together, the trio has been on the ice for three goals-for at 5-on-5 and has not allowed a goal against.

“It's not coming to the rink every day and telling them what to do or telling them what I think,” Schenn said. “If there's opportunities or situations as a group, as a line, where you can come and talk about some things, how we can get better, I think we're all pretty open to it.”

Schenn, acquired at the trade deadline last season, seems to have found his groove playing with the youngsters. The 35-year-old has two goals and three assists through five games on what appears to be the team's most consistent line.

The trio skated together at practice yesterday and appears set to play together tonight against the Vancouver Canucks.

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