NY Islanders will be patient with Cal Ritchie, but say he could force NHL roster spot

The New York Islanders don’t plan to rush Cal Ritchie into the NHL — unless he decides for them.

Ritchie, 20, was the centerpiece of the deal that sent Brock Nelson to Colorado and is projected as a long-term top-six center. But general manager Mathieu Darche said the focus this fall is on development, not fast-tracking, as NY Post beat writer Ethan Sears detailed last week.

“Well, it’s a process. I want them to have an NHL career, not play games,” Darche said this week on The Jeff Marek Show. “It’s not a race, whoever plays his first game or his first 20 games. Having said that, play at training camp. Yes, we have a lot of forwards, and if Cal comes to training camp and outplays everyone, I’ll make room for him on the roster.”

If Patrick Roy keeps Mathew Barzal at center, the projected group down the middle — Bo Horvat, Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Casey Cizikas — leaves little room for Ritchie. However, past experiments with Horvat and Barzal apart haven’t worked as well as keeping them together, which could create an opening for either Ritchie or Kyle MacLean. MacLean is coming off a difficult 2024-25 season with just 11 points in 79 games.

Ritchie has only seven games of NHL experience, debuting with Colorado last season before returning to the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. Now AHL-eligible, he could start the year in Bridgeport — a move Darche says could help his development.

“The example I have — one of them was previous to my time in Tampa — Brayden Point… he was that good in camp. He made the team,” Darche said. “Last year, Conor Geekie in Tampa… he had a great camp. He outplayed guys. He started the year. After a few months, because it is a step, he needed a little step back, so we sent him to Syracuse, and then he came back. He was even better."

Ritchie, for his part, knows his target. “That’s obviously a big goal of mine,” he said at development camp. “I think it’s any kid’s dream to play in the NHL. Gonna work my hardest this summer.”

The Islanders’ message is clear: the door is open, but Ritchie has to walk through it.