Wild select Ryder Ritchie with the 45th overall pick in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
Wild select Ryder Ritchie with the 45th overall pick in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
With the 45th overall pick in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft, the Minnesota Wild select Ryder Ritchie from the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League.
Ryan Kennedy with The Hockey News has Ritchie at 30 on his top 120 rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft.
“He’s talented, but the injuries this year really hurt him,” one scout told The Hockey News. “He has really good skill, but he’s selfish. He doesn’t use his linemates very well. Once you get rid of that selfishness and he learns to distribute the puck better, maybe you have something there.”
Ritchie, 17, recorded 19 goals and 44 points in 47 games last year for the Raiders. The 6-foot right-shot winger is a skilled skater who has a great shot. He just had a problem staying healthy but when he did, Ritchie was great.
“Some games you watch him, and unless he’s got the puck and he’s bursting down the wing, he’s not really too interested,” another scout said. “He’s a one-way player with good speed and skill.”
He is considered to be a one-way player at the next level and is projected to be a David Perron type of player.
"I'm super pumped coming to such an awesome organization," Ritchie told the media at the draft.
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