Calum Ritchie could go from promising to pivotal in 2025

After the successful offseason it’s been thus far for the New York Islanders, it seems like Cal Ritchie has been overshadowed. Mathieu Darche has amassed an impressive array of exciting moves, including the sensational draft class.

Back in March, the Islanders traded beloved veteran forward, Brock Nelson, to the Colorado Avalanche for a package of picks and one intriguing prospect in Calum Ritchie. At the start of last season, the then 19-year-old Ritchie made the Avalanche out of training camp, with the help of injuries to the team’s regulars.

In seven games before heading back to the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, Ritchie scored one goal, ironically against the New York Islanders. He was sent back to juniors, where he accumulated 70 points in 47 games, then 25 points in 21 playoff games. He was also a member of Team Canada’s IIHF World Juniors squad.

What Could Ritchie’s Path Next Season Be? 

With the notable offseason additions of Jonathan Drouin, Maxim Shabanov, and Emil Heineman, the spot for Ritchie on the opening night roster is looking unlikely. If the team stays healthy, below is my projected opening night four lines:

This means Ritchie could start in the AHL and get his feet wet with professional hockey. There are rumors that if the Islanders are struggling before the trade deadline (likely out of playoff contention), then J.G. Pageau would be a valuable asset to be moved to a contender.

If Pageau gets moved, this would open up the spot for Ritchie to get the call-up and slide into the third-line center role. This would mean the Islanders are not making the playoffs, allowing Ritchie to play free and get more experience at the  NHL level. 

I am a huge fan of Cal Ritchie. I want him to make the team out of training camp and spend the entire season with the Islanders, but with the current depth and free agent signings, it’s hard to envision him making the team right away. He possesses an exciting mix of hockey IQ, skill, and two-way responsibility that could solidify him as a future top-six forward. 

Predicting Calum Ritchie's stats

Scenario #1: Ritchie starts the year in the AHL, where he records 0.70 points-per-game. He then gets called up if Pageau gets dealt around the deadline, finishing the year with the Islanders with 0.40 points-per-game, getting looks on the second power play.

Scenario #2: The Islanders are playoff contenders, and Ritchie stays the entire year with Bridgeport. He finishes the year in the team’s top-five point producers, collecting 50 points in 72 games, if he avoids injury and does not get called up.

Scenario #3: Cal Ritchie makes the Islanders right out of training camp. He has his ups and downs in his first full NHL season, but he finishes the year with between 10-15 goals and 30-40 points. He sticks around those third-line minutes and gets occasional looks with the power play units.

Whatever scenario it turns out to be, including one not mentioned, do not sleep on Cal Ritchie’s potential and importance to the Islanders’ future.