DENVER, CO – If ever the time was right for Colorado Avalanche top prospect Cal Ritchie to crack the roster and prove that the 2023 27th overall pick was ready for his NHL debut, it is now. After an injury cast a shadow over his draft year and his first camp, the 19 year old who spent the last three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Oshawa Generals has combined patience and preparation that he hopes will culminate this weekend in Los Angeles.
The bounce back for the Brampton, ON native was solid. Last season in Oshawa, Ritchie put up 80 points in 50 games that included 28 goals and 52 assists while finishing the year at +45.
Ritchie clearly exhibits a high hockey IQ and has the talent to back it up. If critics thought he may have been more on the “lighter” side, it was answered this past summer through hard work and training, as evidenced by adding approximately 17 pounds to his 6’2 frame.
“I put on about 17 pounds,” Ritchie said. “I feel good out there and have been skating a lot [in Denver], so I feel adjusted and am just excited to get going.”
The journey to the NHL and a spot on the Avalanche roster really begins now. Though he was around last year for camp, the injury prevented participation, making this his first real taste of the process of competing for a roster spot.
“It was tough not being part of it last year, but I took in a lot and I learned a lot, which I feel like has put me in a good position for this year and I know what to expect, and I’m excited for that opportunity,” Ritchie said.
Cal Ritchie speaks and understands a perspective beyond his age is also more than cognizant of the pressure and expectation on him after the Avalanche used a first-round selection on him. Despite that perceived pressure, he is choosing to use that as fuel while taking full advantage of the resources that the Avs are providing.
“They used a first-round pick on me so they are putting a lot of trust on me to succeed. They’ve helped me a ton with my development this summer, taking care of my training and they’ve been making sure what skates I’m doing, I’m just really glad and really thankful for their development team.”
Ritchie went on to explain that he’s been in the Denver area for the past three weeks and that he has leaned into the veteran culture in the group to get comfortable. Skating with and having conversations with several key current Avs who have helped to contribute to different parts of his NHL acclimation.
“Andrew Cogliano has been really helpful for me and he’s helped me with my development all summer. Josh Manson is a super good guy. He’s helped a ton and then Logan O’Connor. And being on the ice with Nathan McKinnon and those guys, they’re just unbelievable, it’s great to be on the ice with those guys.”
For Ritchie, the only thing left to do now is quite simply just play the games. As our friend Eric Lacroix has pointed out, don’t do math, don’t worry about roster spots or the “what ifs?”
Just go do you.
Ritchie looked solid on the ice this AM and is getting a taste of what NHL life looks like. Instead of late-night bus rides through obscure Canadian cities, it’s a charter flight and fine dining in LA.
Not as though any more motivation was needed, but a little dangling carrot never hurts. The last nuance in the process of becoming an NHLer was picking a number, and with 21 hanging in the Ball Arena rafters, he had to think quickly about what he will be wearing when he throws on the burgundy this weekend.
“I didn’t really have too many options and it was kind of on the spot so, I just looked at 71 and was kinda like well it looks like 21 my number from juniors, and, obviously, I can’t have 21 cause of Forsberg, so I just picked 71,” he said.
For the player Cal Ritchie is, it’s clear that the number on the back is of little consequence. The goal for the next 3-4 weeks is to earn the logo on the front.
