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

[LTCPain75]

 

[LTCPain75]

I'm on the "Keep Calum" wagon for sure

 

[willy702]

I'm on the "Keep Calum" wagon for sure

I think that's what you call creating leverage for your Mitts contract negotiations

 

[Perratrooper]

Two assist game for Ritchie, including this beauty.

 

[BobRossColton]

Are we drafting sennecke next?

 

[Chiarelli]

Two assist game for Ritchie, including this beauty.

That’s the most skilled play I’ve seen him make

 

[McMetal]

With the Avs center outlook drastically changed by the Mittelstadt trade, I wonder if the Avs are going to change their plans for Ritchie next season. The general consensus around here before was that Ritchie would be kept in the NHL next season as a tryout for taking the 2C position in 2025-26, but with Mitts presumably signing a decently long contract this summer, that would drastically reduce the urgency for Ritchie to step into that role.

I could still see the Avs keeping him after training camp for 9 games, or even for the whole year, to play on the wing and get a feel for the league, but I could also easily see him get slow cooked for another OHL season now. I think there could be some real benefit for him in that route given how much time he's spent playing hurt or on IR, and with his timetable no longer rushed I think that's way more likely than it was 72 hours ago.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

With the Avs center outlook drastically changed by the Mittelstadt trade, I wonder if the Avs are going to change their plans for Ritchie next season. The general consensus around here before was that Ritchie would be kept in the NHL next season as a tryout for taking the 2C position in 2025-26, but with Mitts presumably signing a decently long contract this summer, that would drastically reduce the urgency for Ritchie to step into that role.

I could still see the Avs keeping him after training camp for 9 games, or even for the whole year, to play on the wing and get a feel for the league, but I could also easily see him get slow cooked for another OHL season now. I think there could be some real benefit for him in that route given how much time he's spent playing hurt or on IR, and with his timetable no longer rushed I think that's way more likely than it was 72 hours ago.

He seems to be dominating this league. He could play higher level. AHL min.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

With the Avs center outlook drastically changed by the Mittelstadt trade, I wonder if the Avs are going to change their plans for Ritchie next season. The general consensus around here before was that Ritchie would be kept in the NHL next season as a tryout for taking the 2C position in 2025-26, but with Mitts presumably signing a decently long contract this summer, that would drastically reduce the urgency for Ritchie to step into that role.

I could still see the Avs keeping him after training camp for 9 games, or even for the whole year, to play on the wing and get a feel for the league, but I could also easily see him get slow cooked for another OHL season now. I think there could be some real benefit for him in that route given how much time he's spent playing hurt or on IR, and with his timetable no longer rushed I think that's way more likely than it was 72 hours ago.

I think the best option is to slow-cook him. If for whatever reason he cracks the NHL roster this TC and sticks around the whole year, that's a great problem to have. He can be moved to RW and take off-hand draws for Mitts or Colton, or if Ritchie is at his best at C, one of Mitts or Colton can slide over to LW and take the off-hand draws.

 

[BobRossColton]

Just have him be 3C the last year and a half of Coltons deal

 

[NorthernAvsFan]

That’s an incredible play from Ritchie. It’s hard not to be bullish on his future, but I want to see him at higher level.

 

[RampoSanta]

that was filthy

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

I imagine, after re-signing Mittelstadt this offseason, and hopefully Walker, they aren't gonna have much space left to re-sign all of Drouin, Trenin, and Duhaime. I expect Cogs and Parise both to retire, and JMFJ to either move on or retire. I wonder if they will sign Ritchie to ELC and he'll play W on one of the top 2 lines to start next year?

I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) that per CHL rules, he can only play in the NHL or back with the CHL (unless they loan him to Europe), and not the AHL.

Landy/Mack/Mikko
Ritchie/Mitts/Nuke
Lehky/Rosco/Koval
Wood/Trenin/LOC

Toews/Makar
G/Walker
Behrens/Manz
Malinski

George
Cheeks or Provey

 

[EdAVSfan]

Yeah with Mittlestadt now in the fold, you can legitimately bring Ritchie in now to play wing and bide his time before having take the 3C spot and move Colton to wing.

They now have the luxury necessary to really properly assess where and what position is best for him moving forward.

 

[dahrougem2]

With the Avs center outlook drastically changed by the Mittelstadt trade, I wonder if the Avs are going to change their plans for Ritchie next season. The general consensus around here before was that Ritchie would be kept in the NHL next season as a tryout for taking the 2C position in 2025-26, but with Mitts presumably signing a decently long contract this summer, that would drastically reduce the urgency for Ritchie to step into that role.

I could still see the Avs keeping him after training camp for 9 games, or even for the whole year, to play on the wing and get a feel for the league, but I could also easily see him get slow cooked for another OHL season now. I think there could be some real benefit for him in that route given how much time he's spent playing hurt or on IR, and with his timetable no longer rushed I think that's way more likely than it was 72 hours ago.

They almost assuredly will take the Wyatt Johnston route now.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

IMO they should bring him in on the 3rd line next season either as 3W or 3C (Colton would move to W in this case. If he starts on the W he can then starts taking some reps at 3C to slowly get him ready for full time 3C. Then when he is ready for 2C a year or two later you move him up to 2C and either move Mitts to W or trade Mitts to plug other holes in the lineup/future.

 

[cinchronicity]

The Avs wing situation is very interesting. There are 8 wings under contract today, if we include Landy:

Lehky

Mikko

Drouin

Nuke

Wood

LOC

Landy

Kovalenko

All but Drouin are signed for next year, and Drouin is the best passer in the bunch. So I simply do not see room for Ritchie on the wing. Does he jump Foudy and take 4C next season? Does he play 4W?

I hate to say this, but it might be the case that Landy is best on LTIR next year. I just do not see a situation where he is 1LW after this injury and time lost. I'm not sure I see him as 2LW either. So if Landy finds a home at 3LW, that leaves Wood, Kovalenko, Foudy and Ritchie ( only because he can't go to the AHL, if that is correct) looking for 4th line minutes. Oddly, Kovy, Foudy and Ritchie are all looking at Center. So if the Avs win Landy a second cup, and Landy sails off into LTIRetirement:

Drouin - Mac - Nuke
Lehky - Mitts - Mikko
Wood - Colton - LOC
Kovy - Foudy - Ritchie

I'm unsure if Kovy jumps back to the KHL if he is stapled to the 4th line, but the Roaring 20's sum is far superior to the individual parts and I hate the idea of breaking them up.

Of course, if Mikko demands $13M AAV..........

 

[missionAvs]

The Avs wing situation is very interesting. There are 8 wings under contract today, if we include Landy:

Lehky

Mikko

Drouin

Nuke

Wood

LOC

Landy

Kovalenko

All but Drouin are signed for next year, and Drouin is the best passer in the bunch. So I simply do not see room for Ritchie on the wing. Does he jump Foudy and take 4C next season? Does he play 4W?

I hate to say this, but it might be the case that Landy is best on LTIR next year. I just do not see a situation where he is 1LW after this injury and time lost. I'm not sure I see him as 2LW either. So if Landy finds a home at 3LW, that leaves Wood, Kovalenko, Foudy and Ritchie ( only because he can't go to the AHL, if that is correct) looking for 4th line minutes. Oddly, Kovy, Foudy and Ritchie are all looking at Center. So if the Avs win Landy a second cup, and Landy sails off into LTIRetirement:

Drouin - Mac - Nuke
Lehky - Mitts - Mikko
Wood - Colton - LOC
Kovy - Foudy - Ritchie

I'm unsure if Kovy jumps back to the KHL if he is stapled to the 4th line, but the Roaring 20's sum is far superior to the individual parts and I hate the idea of breaking them up.

Of course, if Mikko demands $13M AAV..........

Worse case scenario for Landy is for him to return and not play at a top 6 level. Unfortunately for us, this is also one of the most likely scenarios. I still think LTIRetirement is the most likely outcome. Best case is, of course, Landy coming back and playing at a top 6 level and then just deal with the repercussions of that. Or hey, we can Kucherov him for the regular seasons and only bring him back for the playoffs lol.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

The Mittelstadt move sealed Drouin’s fate, IMO. I don’t think they can afford him, but we’ll see.

 

[BobRossColton]

The Mittelstadt move sealed Drouin’s fate, IMO. I don’t think they can afford him, but we’ll see.

Unless he wants to sign another league minimum

 

[Avs9296]

IMO they should bring him in on the 3rd line next season either as 3W or 3C (Colton would move to W in this case. If he starts on the W he can then starts taking some reps at 3C to slowly get him ready for full time 3C. Then when he is ready for 2C a year or two later you move him up to 2C and either move Mitts to W or trade Mitts to plug other holes in the lineup/future.

I honestly don't love Colton at center like at all. He's a decent player but imo he's overpaid by a bit and he's not a great center. He'd be much better off on the wing.

 

[jfc64]

That’s the most skilled play I’ve seen him make

What was the LD doing?

 

[jfc64]

I think that's what you call creating leverage for your Mitts contract negotiations

Maybe even "you wanna play with M&M" (Mikko & MacK), triMMMing the fat of the opponent.

That's right, folks. The 3 M's line is born!

 

[jfc64]

Just have him be 3C the last year and a half of Coltons deal

Or imagine Gulyaev or Behrens taking Girard's spot.

 

[Bender]

I imagine, after re-signing Mittelstadt this offseason, and hopefully Walker, they aren't gonna have much space left to re-sign all of Drouin, Trenin, and Duhaime. I expect Cogs and Parise both to retire, and JMFJ to either move on or retire. I wonder if they will sign Ritchie to ELC and he'll play W on one of the top 2 lines to start next year?

I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) that per CHL rules, he can only play in the NHL or back with the CHL (unless they loan him to Europe), and not the AHL.

Landy/Mack/Mikko
Ritchie/Mitts/Nuke
Lehky/Rosco/Koval
Wood/Trenin/LOC

Toews/Makar
G/Walker
Behrens/Manz
Malinski

George
Cheeks or Provey

Way too many unknowns to even start to speculate one way or another, in my opinion.

This is the summer of Mikko and where all things begin. Did the Avs go far in the playoffs? Was Mikko a big part of that? Did he play his best hockey at the most important time of year?? Was Landeskog able to make a fully successful comeback and can now resume his career?

All of these questions need to be answered before the Avs decide to lock him up to a massive long-term contract that will for sure start with an $11 and could be much, much more than that.