2024 Golden Knights Draft Prospects: Ryder Ritchie

Ryder Ritchie is a highly skilled forward that the Vegas Golden Knights could consider drafting with their 19th overall pick.

Ryder Ritchie is a highly skilled forward that the Vegas Golden Knights could consider drafting with their 19th overall pick.

17 years old, 6'0 and 176 lbs, Ritchie has all the tools to be a great offensive player even if his WHL numbers from last season don't reflect it.

This past season in 47 games he scored 19 goals and 44 points on a weak Prince Albert Raiders team. The Raiders finished in the bottom 10 of the league and lost in the first round. He scored three goals and seven points in the five-game series. 

With the Raiders out of the playoffs, Ritchie was invited to play for Team Canada at the U-18s where he played very well and was part of the Gold Medal winning team. In seven games he scored four goals and eight points. 

Even with his WHL numbers looking a bit bleak, the high-end skill he possesses is apparent. He's a smooth-skating winger with great hands. His edge work and his ability to change speeds allow him to give himself space and time to be the great playmaker that he is. He couples his playmaking ability with a strong shot. Given the opportunity, Ritchie isn't afraid to show his release. 

The Alberta native was rookie of the year in the WHL in 2022-23. He recorded 0.90PPG and finished third on his team in points and goals. 

Throughout his career, Ritchie has struggled with overall offensive consistency and unsurprisingly his defensive game. Wingers tend to take a bit longer to understand their defensive responsibilities and it's something that he will improve at as he gets older.  

Ritchie's offensive skillset gives him all the tools to be a dominant factor in zone entries but his decision making needs improvement. Picking and choosing when to try the creative moves and when it's best to keep it simple are the offensive consistency concerns that follow his game.

If the Golden Knights do select Ritchie, he would immediately become their most skilled prospect. With the potential to be a top-six contributor, his skillset should allow him to at the very least be an effective middle-six player. He's a long-term project that could be worth the effort. 

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