Prospect Info: Avs draft F Calum Ritchie (2023 #27 overall)

[BobRossColton]

This streak of his is slightly perplexing value wise.

 

[Perratrooper]

I wouldn't expect him in the NHL next season. It's pretty clear that Bednar wants to win all the regular season games at all cost, he isn't going to take his time and develop a young player.

We've literally just witnessed it with Newhook.

IF we don’t get a legit 2C and he’s not traded I wouldn’t be surprised if he got his 9 games next season.

 

[tigervixxxen]

IF we don’t get a legit 2C and he’s not traded I wouldn’t be surprised if he got his 9 games next season.

They’d have to sign him first, I’m not expecting that for another year.

 

[NateTheGreat]

Last couple points in a matter of a few minutes it looks like.

Definitely going to be an interesting decision for the Avs.

Do you keep him because he's playing so well and you could use a young center with top six potential to grow into his prime, while the rest of the core ages? Potentially extending their window?

Or do you trade him for a 2C because he's playing so well his trade value is high, perhaps it's highest, since you don't have a lot of roster pieces you want to move in season, and not many prospects with value?

If that 2C they trade for is under contract with a decent cap hit beyond this season, I think that could sway the Avs towards the latter, but we'll see.

It actually has the potential to turn out well for the Avs no matter which way they go, which is a good position to be in, but time will tell.

The best thing to happen for the Avs after making the pick instead of trading it at the draft was having the player they select increase in value which Ritchie has done.

Imo you keep Ritchie unless you’re packaging him for a higher end 2C that is under team control. I’m not dealing him for any pure rentals. They have other assets for that.

 

[Balthazar]

There's probably no official stats for this but I wonder...

Assuming we want a 2C out of him, what kind of offense should we expect from him in his D+1 in the OHL to meet our expectations?

Considering the very top guys from his draft class are already in the NHL, should we expect at least top 5 in PPG in the OHL?

I mean not many current OHL players in their D+1 will crack the top 6 one day in the NHL. He's gotta distance himself from the mass and finish the season at the top or near the top of the league (in PPG).

 

[NateTheGreat]

There's probably no official stats for this but I wonder...

Assuming we want a 2C out of him, what kind of offense should we expect from him in his D+1 in the OHL to meet our expectations?

Considering the very top guys from his draft class are already in the NHL, should we expect at least top 5 in PPG in the OHL?

I mean not many current OHL players in their D+1 will crack the top 6 one day in the NHL. He's gotta distance himself from the mass and finish the season at the top or near the top of the league (in PPG).

He’s 4th in PPG in the OHL behind Cowan, Rehkopf and Musty.

 

[McJedi]

That's a fair point, but also to be fair, Ritchie looks to be having a much better D+1 season than most if not all of the Avs forward prospects in recent memory.

Newhook and Jost are a little hard to compare in the NCAA, but they were point a game players, and Ritchie has 40 points in 24 games so far.

And is an insane +28 in 25 games. Ritchie is on a + per game pace. That’s a guy that scores in a 5 vs 5 game. That’s a guy that is tilting the ice.

but Gulyaev is having an even more impressive season. He’s gone from his teams de facto #7 to their number 3 over the past three months. He’s making an incredible roster progression for an 18 year old D man in the second best league in the world. His team is one of the best in the KHL. His coach played him a season high 21 minutes today. Vs a good team from Moscow. And he played great. They won 3-1. His coach clearly loves him. And the KHL is a league that isn’t good to rookies usually.

It’s super promising on both these guys.

 

[McJedi]

There's probably no official stats for this but I wonder...

Assuming we want a 2C out of him, what kind of offense should we expect from him in his D+1 in the OHL to meet our expectations?

Considering the very top guys from his draft class are already in the NHL, should we expect at least top 5 in PPG in the OHL?

I mean not many current OHL players in their D+1 will crack the top 6 one day in the NHL. He's gotta distance himself from the mass and finish the season at the top or near the top of the league (in PPG).

2023 looking very much like the exalted draft it was billed to be. Thrilled our Avs got two picks in this talent bonanza. Thanks Newhook.

 

[John Mandalorian]

2g 1a for Ritchie so far tonight…kid is on a heater

Edit: 2g 2a

Edit again: 2g 3a

It’s a good thing you didn’t start editing after the first point.

 

[John Mandalorian]

The cool thing about Ritchie is a lot/most of his game, you can see translating to the NHL. How quickly might be a fair question. But you can see his skills aligning with what typically works in the NHL. The guy has some really slick mitts.

 

[Ceremony]

Can we just see if we made an actual worthwhile draft pick for once rather than trade him because we think he'll stall like Jost or Newhook or Olausson or Wolski or Kaut or Byram. I know we enjoy being negative but it's like some of you have PTSD from watching these careers flame out.

If he turns out to be NHL ready (and top 6 capable) in 2-3 years it'll be just in time to compensate for Makar and Rantanen making a lot more money. Tampa have been as successful as they have for so long because they can draft. It's about time we joined them.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Can we just see if we made an actual worthwhile draft pick for once rather than trade him because we think he'll stall like Jost or Newhook or Olausson or Wolski or Kaut or Byram. I know we enjoy being negative but it's like some of you have PTSD from watching these careers flame out.

If he turns out to be NHL ready (and top 6 capable) in 2-3 years it'll be just in time to compensate for Makar and Rantanen making a lot more money. Tampa have been as successful as they have for so long because they can draft. It's about time we joined them.

You make a strong point. Still open to trading him. But it does modify things somewhat. For example, less open to trading for a rental.

 

[JH21]

And is an insane +26 in 28 games. Ritchie is on a + per game pace. That’s a guy that scores in a 5 vs 5 game. That’s a guy that is tilting the ice.

but Gulyaev is having an even more impressive season. He’s gone from his teams de facto #7 to their number 3 over the past three months. He’s making an incredible roster progression for an 18 year old D man in the second best league in the world. His team is one of the best in the KHL. His coach played him a season high 21 minutes today. Vs a good team from Moscow. And he played great. They won 3-1. His coach clearly loves him. And the KHL is a league that isn’t good to rookies usually.

It’s super promising on both these guys.

And guys wanted to trade both picks for average rentals. Now they want to trade both guys for average rentals.

We need these ELC's and cheap contracts to balance out the roster.

Both these guys aren't going anywhere.

 

[Chiarelli]

Great news! Now trade his ass for some help

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Great news! Now trade his ass for some help

I’m fine with that if it’s younger, long-term help. A rental they don’t plan on re-signing is dumb

 

[henchman21]

There's probably no official stats for this but I wonder...

Assuming we want a 2C out of him, what kind of offense should we expect from him in his D+1 in the OHL to meet our expectations?

Considering the very top guys from his draft class are already in the NHL, should we expect at least top 5 in PPG in the OHL?

I mean not many current OHL players in their D+1 will crack the top 6 one day in the NHL. He's gotta distance himself from the mass and finish the season at the top or near the top of the league (in PPG).

He's in the range now... 1.6+ is usually where high impact scoring guys land now. 1.5 has happened. 1.4 is really the minimum. Production isn't the end all be all, but really strong evidence that if a guy is an impact player offensively in the NHL... they have to really do well in the +1. With this heater he's on, he's elevated to and above.

He's playing really good hockey right now in general. My smart ass comment the other day where he didn't score... was one of the best games I've seen from him. It was just a messy game. This is a good sign... needs to continue through the end of the season and playoffs, but very good signs.

 

[McJedi]

Great news! Now trade his ass for some help

why? These two kids are trending to become very good NHL players. Let’s keep them. Good teams need good players. The Avs don’t need rentals. Esp when Nuke is such a wild card. Until Nuke stabilizes, don’t invest into this season at the expense of the future.

 

[lionsDen]

The biggest question I have. Will ryjo turn it up in the playoffs. He’s known to do this. I know we all wanna punch him in the face maybe we keep him unless kadri is up trade. One Calgary fan said he’d take. 7th for him.

 

[Balthazar]

The biggest question I have. Will ryjo turn it up in the playoffs.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: If RyJo had anything left in the tank he'd show it now because he knows he's about to get dumped to a shit non playoff team and this was his only chance to win a cup in his career. He doesn't have another gear.

 

[avsfan09]

Joey Hishon had a great season in the OHL after his draft too, though.

Also had many, many concussions to go with his size issues.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Short answer: No.

Long answer: If RyJo had anything left in the tank he'd show it now because he knows he's about to get dumped to a shit non playoff team and this was his only chance to win a cup in his career. He doesn't have another gear.

I believe this is the case.

 

[Metallo]

Short answer: No.

Long answer: If RyJo had anything left in the tank he'd show it now because he knows he's about to get dumped to a shit non playoff team and this was his only chance to win a cup in his career. He doesn't have another gear.

Yeah I don't see how he could magically turn it up and be good on a consistent basis. Maybe he could have 1-2 good outlier games but that's about it and the most optimistic spin I can have.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Short answer: No.

Long answer: If RyJo had anything left in the tank he'd show it now because he knows he's about to get dumped to a shit non playoff team and this was his only chance to win a cup in his career. He doesn't have another gear.

Even with getting an actual 2C, I'd figured the Avs would keep him as a winger (and center depth in the playoffs) but I just got to say you are 100% dead on with this.

Johansen was literally traded for 50 cents on the dollar this summer. He might be slow and unmotivated but he's not illiterate... he can read the writing on the wall. If he's still playing like this, he's toast.

We might be better off keeping him around for depth in the playoffs and then buying him out on 6/15. Then it would cost us 1.33M against the cap for two years. Depending on what our 2C makes, we could potentially buy him out and not have to waste assets to get rid of him and I have no idea what the asset equivalence of 1.33M in cap space for two years is.

 

[Perratrooper]

Only 1 point (g) in a 5-0 win, back on the bust train

 

[Perratrooper]

Only 1 point (g) in a 5-0 win, back on the bust train