2024 NHL Draft Profile: Ryder Ritchie
A deep dive into 2024 NHL Draft prospect and Prince Albert Raiders' Ryder Ritchie.
Photo by Mark Peterson/WHL - 2024 NHL Draft Profile: Ryder RitchieThe WHL is set to play a significant role in this year's 2024 NHL Draft. 57 players were included on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings, with a handful expected to be drafted in the first round. Today's draft profile is of Prince Albert Raiders' forward Ryder Ritchie, who enters the draft as the 19th-ranked North American Skater.
The best way to describe Ritchie is a dynamic offensive winger who understands where he needs to be on the ice to create chances. The Prince Albert forward has a good shot and can find teammates in open positions while under pressure from the opposition. He thrives with the puck on his stick, as his high skill level and speed make him a nightmare to match up against.
This season was tough for Ritchie as he battled injuries and only played 47 regular-season games. The good news, however, is he bounced back in the playoffs and showed at this year's U18s that he can thrive when placed beside some of the best players from his age group. With Gold Medals for Canada at both the U18s and Hlinka Gretzky tournament in the past year, Ritchie has shown he doesn't fold under pressure and can step up when facing some of the top prospects available in this year's draft.
When watching Ritchie, one area of his game that stands out is his determination. Whether it is along the board or in front of the night, he is willing to fight for loose pucks and doesn't let the opposition's physicality affect his overall play. Listed at 5'11", 175 pounds, he can take plenty of punishment while also remaining calm and disciplined.
Going into the 2024-25 season, one thing to watch with Ritchie is his skating. While he can generate speed, he can be more explosive, which will help in the transition game. Going into the 2024-25 season fully healthy should also help his skating, as he did miss several weeks with a lower-body injury during the middle of the campaign.
Based on Ritchie's skill set, he should be a first-rounder in this year's draft. He projects as a middle-six forward at the NHL level who can also contribute to the power play. The question now is not whether he will be able to surpass his dad, Byron Ritchie's NHL total of 324 regular season games, but how quickly Ryder will hit 325.
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