The New York Islanders have traded Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche, and the return was a valuable haul, headlined by top prospect, Calum Ritchie:
Ritchie, a 20-year-old from Brampton, Ontario, was a 2023 first-round pick of the Avalanche (No. 27).
He stands 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and is right-handed, playing primarily the center position.
He began the season in the NHL with the Avalanche, scoring one point -- a goal -- in seven games played.
A member of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he has 67 points (14 goals, 53 assists) in 41 games this season, leading the team in points per game.
In 215 career OHL games, Ritchie has 251 points (85 goals, 166 assists), good for 13th in all-time scoring for the Generals, and first among those born since 2000.
The Islanders have a history of developing Generals' forwards, with 2009 first overall pick and longtime captain, John Tavares, a former General, as well as 2014 fifth overall pick, Michael Dal Colle.
The Islanders are getting quite the prospect in Ritchie, who is known for his hockey IQ, playmaking ability, vision, and footwork.
He anticipates the play and finds open ice well, consistently offering his teammates an open pass in the offensive zone.
Ritchie's game is an offensive forward, but he is no slouch in the defensive zone, frequently using his body to win puck battles along the boards and around the net.
The Generals currently rank third in the OHL's Eastern Conference and have clinched a playoff berth, so Ritchie will have some valuable games ahead.
Given he has already seen time in the NHL and will age out of the OHL, he is expected to contend for an NHL roster spot ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Ritchie, a 20-year-old from Brampton, Ontario, was a 2023 first-round pick of the Avalanche (No. 27).
He stands 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and is right-handed, playing primarily the center position.
He began the season in the NHL with the Avalanche, scoring one point -- a goal -- in seven games played.
A member of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he has 67 points (14 goals, 53 assists) in 41 games this season, leading the team in points per game.
In 215 career OHL games, Ritchie has 251 points (85 goals, 166 assists), good for 13th in all-time scoring for the Generals, and first among those born since 2000.
The Islanders have a history of developing Generals' forwards, with 2009 first overall pick and longtime captain, John Tavares, a former General, as well as 2014 fifth overall pick, Michael Dal Colle.
The Islanders are getting quite the prospect in Ritchie, who is known for his hockey IQ, playmaking ability, vision, and footwork.
He anticipates the play and finds open ice well, consistently offering his teammates an open pass in the offensive zone.
Ritchie's game is an offensive forward, but he is no slouch in the defensive zone, frequently using his body to win puck battles along the boards and around the net.
The Generals currently rank third in the OHL's Eastern Conference and have clinched a playoff berth, so Ritchie will have some valuable games ahead.
Given he has already seen time in the NHL and will age out of the OHL, he is expected to contend for an NHL roster spot ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Michael Ostrower contributed to this report.
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