Confirmed with Link: [COL/NYI] Brock Nelson, William Dufour for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington, 1st-round pick, cond. 2028 3rd-round pick

  • Xenforo Cloud has upgraded us to version 2.3.6. Please report any issues you experience.
  • We are currently aware of "log in/security error" issues that are affecting some users. We apologize and ask for your patience as we try to get these issues fixed.
Considering Colorado's 1st round pick in 2025 isn't in the top 10, the Flyers will get it as a part of the Walker trade. That means the only way the Isles don't get the Avs 2026 pick is if it's in the top 10, which is doubtful.

2027 is too far out right now, but 2026 is looking much, much deeper than 2025 so this is great news.
I don't mind 2027. It might work out better for us. Who knows what can happen to Colorado in two years time? Their core will be two years older, maybe they start declining or becoming injury prone and we get a top-16 pick.
 
Considering Colorado's 1st round pick in 2025 isn't in the top 10, the Flyers will get it as a part of the Walker trade. That means the only way the Isles don't get the Avs 2026 pick is if it's in the top 10, which is doubtful.

2027 is too far out right now, but 2026 is looking much, much deeper than 2025 so this is great news.

Yes - I love this part of the deal. Would much rather have a 2026 1st rounder than 2025. Also while the Avs should be great, weird things could happen in the offseason/with injuries and maybe their 2026 1st is higher than their 2025 1st.
 
Avs fans seem about upset about losing Ritchie so there’s that

Yes - I love this part of the deal. Would much rather have a 2026 1st rounder than 2025. Also while the Avs should be great, weird things could happen in the offseason/with injuries and maybe their 2026 1st is higher than their 2025 1st.
There’s conditions on the 2026 for us. Top10 protected I think.

Also, a pick being further out gives Lou more time to do something stupid with it.

I wonder what number Brock is gonna switch to?
 
Conditions kinda suck for us. I’m glad the trade was made though.

Ritchie has a chance to be a real good #2 center. Playmaking right handed version of Brock actually. He’s a smart 2way player with good size. Not a big goal scorer but a terrific playmaker. Should be in Bridgport to start the year next season.
2026 Is the pick you guys want
 
I don't mind 2027. It might work out better for us. Who knows what can happen to Colorado in two years time? Their core will be two years older, maybe they start declining or becoming injury prone and we get a top-16 pick.

I'd rather have a top 25 pick in a deep draft than a top 15 pick in an average draft year. So far 2026 looks like it could boast a lot of talent and depth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: icelander25
Went over to the Avs board and got some good reports on Ritchie. Sounds highly skilled; this organization needs an injection of skill.
 
As an Oshawa Generals season ticket holder who also travels to some road games, I’ve seen Ritchie play in person well over 100 times.

In terms of his game, his strongest asset is his play making ability. This will play at the NHL level because he sees the ice so well. Ritchie is also an excellent face off man and kills penalties. His shot is decent but he’s clearly a set up man rather than a goal scorer.

Contrary to what the previous scouting report in this thread mentioned, Ritchie is not very good at shootouts. For whatever reason, he’s really struggled with them. He used a trick play where he pretends to fan on the shot and lets the puck’s momentum carry it past the goalie. It worked perfectly in the NHL preseason and then worked perfectly again in an OHL shootout earlier this season, but now all the goalies know what to expect.

Ritchie is a good skater, although not at the level of his teammate Beckett Sennecke. He’s not shy about competing for pucks along the boards, although he’s never going to smash a defenceman into the end boards with a huge hit on the fore check. This year Ritchie has added more an element of feistiness to his game and has been in the middle of several post whistle scrums. He’s rarely the instigator of them however - - it’s always opponents trying to draw him into taking a penalty to get him off the ice - - but I like seeing him stand up and not shy away from post whistle skirmishes.

Some people who only look at the stat sheet will proclaim Ritchie has had a disappointing season, but as I explained in another thread, the biggest problem in Oshawa this year is coaching. They brought in a new coach at the start of the year then fired him after 30 games and replaced him with a guy who has literally NEVER coached a single game in his life. For some unknown reason, the new coach is constantly changing lines and Ritchie has new line mates almost every single game.

In terms of intangibles, Ritchie is an absolute gem of a person. He’s very mature and you’ll never have to worry about him getting a DUI or a sexual assault charge. He’s got somewhat of a quiet personality and he’s very humble. Ritchie will often be still signing autographs for kids long after his teammates have left.

If I’m ranking Ritchie against other first round draft picks in the OHL, he’ll be a better pro than Easton Cowan because Cowan’s game isn’t going to translate to the NHL. He’s much better than Colby Barlow will ever be. Ritchie will be better in the NHL than Quentin Musty because he’s got a more rounded game and more consistency than Musty. Sennecke is a more talented player than Ritchie, but there’s some maturity issues with him that are a red flag for me.
 
I love Brock and am super sad he's gone. One of the best Islanders over the past few years and a homegrown talent. Those are the things dreams are made of. I wish we could have got a cup with him.

I knew it was likely going to happen, and I'm hardly an optimist, but if I had to see any kind of silver lining it's the getting younger part. We needed that. It sucks from a fan of a certain player standpoint, but taking the heart out, the logic is there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lek and Kevin27NYI
I like what I’ve been seeing/reading about Ritchie. What also endears me is that he’s *close to being NHL ready. Perhaps bring him up for a few games when Oshawa’s season ends, there is now a void at center.
 
  • Like
Reactions: icelander25
IMG_2398.jpeg
 
Breakdown:
- Ritchie and one of 26/27 1st rounder are the certainties.
- Lou retains 50% of Brock's cap hit for the rest of this season.
- Kylington (and his cap hit) were immediately jettisoned to Anaheim.
- 3rd rounder in 3026 only comes over if Avs win the Cup with Nelson playing 50% of the PO games.

Initial thoughts:
- This deal technically isn't even what we paid for Horvat. I was certain that deal would serve as the BARE minimum for what we could get for Nelson in this market.
- 16-team NTC or not, I cannot believe this was the best bid Lou got. There were surely better pitches. This tells me that Lou likely let Nelson's party know which 3 or 4 destinations ultimately come into question and then Nelson got to pick.
- Both picks, even if one is very unlikely, lie in the future. Does this mean Lou is doing his future replacement a goodin'?
- Gotta assume that the NYI scouting staff is very high on Ritchie. In essence, getting a young center prospect like this says you're looking to get a prospect who has the potential to replace the guy you're sending out. Looks like that could be the case.

Ultimately, if Ritchie turns out to be what's expected and this team makes a decent pick whenever it gets to make use of that 1st, the deal will have been a good one.

I can't look at what Tampa did with Gourde and Bjorkstrand and think this was simply "the best" Lou could have done.
 
Where are all the Lou haters now? We got a first round pick and Colorado top prospect who could be an NHL second line center next season at 21 years old. Very sad about Brock going, but that is a great trade.
We’re still here 😉. Good trade but it was necessary. Hopefully this signals the retool and the beginning of the end of Lou’s reign.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MJF and The Real JT
Not a huge Ritchie fan. But it's a good deal, and it's really just assets. Maybe one can be used to move up to get the guy they want in this draft.
 

Ad

Ad