Prospect Info: Avs draft F Calum Ritchie (2023 #27 overall)

[PAZ]

I don't understand how people say there is nothing to be learned by going back to juniors.

Byram in his draft year and in his D+1 year was a completely different player - the Avs got him to focus on the defensive end and he was better for it. Ritchie has plenty to work on in the CHL - it'll just depend if he's committed enough to work on the other parts of his game in the OHL.

 

[dahrougem2]

I don't believe that. Just look at what Montreal is doing with their #1 pick Slaf. Total disaster. You can destroy a kid mentally. They might recover or not.

They should have left Slaf in Finland for one season, then step to AHL or NHL. He wasn't near ready for the spotlight.

Total mishandling of a player. If they don't bust out completely, it will definitely slow down their development. For more fringe player might be a death sentence.

I think Slafkovsky has been quite good for Montreal this season, though. Obviously the production is lower than they'd like but I don't think he ever projected as some elite offensive scorer, either.

He seems like a ~60-75 point power forward who can skate and dominate down low. Almost like drafting Gabriel Landeskog.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I don't understand how people say there is nothing to be learned by going back to juniors.

Byram in his draft year and in his D+1 year was a completely different player - the Avs got him to focus on the defensive end and he was better for it. Ritchie has plenty to work on in the CHL - it'll just depend if he's committed enough to work on the other parts of his game in the OHL.

I didn't say he has nothing to learn going back to the OHL. There are always stuff you can learn. But the way he dominates right now at that level IMO there is nothing he can learn there that he can't learn at the NHL level. Obviously if he is going to play 4th line for 4-5 min/gm all season then I prefer he plays a lot in the OHL. But if he can hold a 3rd line role in the NHL he is way better off with the Avs.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

I didn't say he has nothing to learn going back to the OHL. There are always stuff you can learn. But the way he dominates right now at that level IMO there is nothing he can learn there that he can't learn at the NHL level. Obviously he is going to play 4th line for 4-5 min/gm all season then I prefer he plays a lot in the OHL. But if he can hold a 3rd line role in the NHL he is way better off with the Avs.

I agree with you, I think it’s a bad sign if the Avs are sending him back for D+2.

 

[Balthazar]

I think Slafkovsky has been quite good for Montreal this season, though. Obviously the production is lower than they'd like but I don't think he ever projected as some elite offensive scorer, either.

He seems like a ~60-75 point power forward who can skate and dominate down low. Almost like drafting Gabriel Landeskog.

Yea the way he plays defensively and opens up the ice for his linemates offensively is impressive, he's going to be a 2-way stud. He doesn't have a great shot but he has a high IQ and finds ways to be useful in all 3 zones..in that regard he reminds me of Nuke.

That draft sucked but he'd be perfectly fine for like a 3rd OA pick in a normal draft.

 

[Foppa2118]

I didn't say he has nothing to learn going back to the OHL. There are always stuff you can learn. But the way he dominates right now at that level IMO there is nothing he can learn there that he can't learn at the NHL level. Obviously he is going to play 4th line for 4-5 min/gm all season then I prefer he plays a lot in the OHL. But if he can hold a 3rd line role in the NHL he is way better off with the Avs.

I agree with this, but the Avs actually have their 3rd line covered in the NHL for the foreseeable future (great job by CMac), so in a healthy lineup he probably won't play there.

I'd like to see the Avs try to sign Ritchie and hopefully get some AHL games in this year, to evaluate his NHL readiness next year, like they've done with Malinksi and others.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I agree with this, but the Avs actually have their 3rd line covered in the NHL for the foreseeable future (great job by CMac), so in a healthy lineup he probably won't play there.

I'd like to see the Avs try to sign Ritchie and hopefully get some AHL games in this year, to evaluate his NHL readiness next year, like they've done with Malinksi and others.

I agree that the Avs have their 3rd line covered but in my scenario it would be broken up only until Ritchie figures out playing at NHL level.

Ritchie cannot be sent to the AHL due to age requirement with players from WHL, OHL and JMQHL. For Ritchie it is either NHL or back to OHL. A 3rd option would be for him to play in Europe for a year.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I agree that the Avs have their 3rd line covered but in my scenario it would be broken up only until Ritchie figures out playing at NHL level.

Ritchie cannot be sent to the AHL due to age requirement with players from WHL, OHL and JMQHL. For Ritchie it is either NHL or back to OHL. A 3rd option would be for him to play in Europe for a year.

I wonder why this almost never happens.

I know folks have said that rushing prospects isn't really a thing as if they are talented enough to be NHLrs they'll figure it out. But, I wonder if their development could be improved by playing a year in Europe at 18/19. It's less physical, less chance of injury than the AHL, it's a grown men's league so they're competing against stronger players than in juniors. I would imagine that European teams would love to have some young high talent players come over for a year. But...I can also see that being a bit of a pain in the ass for the GMs in Europe. A good pain to be sure, but still a bit of a pain when you get such talent but only get to keep it for a year.

 

[Foppa2118]

Ritchie cannot be sent to the AHL due to age requirement with players from WHL, OHL and JMQHL. For Ritchie it is either NHL or back to OHL. A 3rd option would be for him to play in Europe for a year.

I don't think that applies to tryouts or games after their CHL season is over. If his WHL team's season is done, he can't play there anyway.

You migth need to be under an NHL contract though, not sure the details on that part.

Olen Zellweger is a good example.

Drafted out of the WHL in 2021. Signed to an ELC. After his D+1 WHL season ended he was assigned to the Gulls in the AHL as an 18 year old and played 1 playoff game.

Then went back to the WHL the following season.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I don't think that applies to tryouts or games after their CHL season is over. If his WHL team's season is done, he can't play there anyway.

You migth need to be under an NHL contract though, not sure the details on that part.

Olen Zellweger is a good example.

Drafted out of the WHL in 2021. Signed to an ELC. After his D+1 WHL season ended he was assigned to the Gulls in the AHL as an 18 year old and played 1 playoff game.

Then went back to the WHL the following season.

I must be missing something then because I always thought CHL players needed to be 20 yrs old by Dec 15th to be able to play in the AHL

 

[Foppa2118]

I must be missing something then because I always thought CHL players needed to be 20 yrs old by Dec 15th to be able to play in the AHL

I think the CHL transfer agreement might only apply to when their team is still playing and he can play there.

 

[GeoRox89]

I must be missing something then because I always thought CHL players needed to be 20 yrs old by Dec 15th to be able to play in the AHL

Pretty sure it is different when their CHL team is done for the season. Also, there is definitely a seasons played/rostered clause because Shane Wright was eligible this year despite not turning 20 until January

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I think the CHL transfer agreement might only apply to when their team is still playing and he can play there.

So that I am cleared on this...

Ritchie could play in the AHl this season once Oshawa is done for the season but because he is not 20 yrs old by Dec 15th he will not be allowed to play in the AHL next season?

 

[Foppa2118]

So that I am cleared on this...

Ritchie could play in the AHl this season once Oshawa is done for the season but because he is not 20 yrs old by Dec 15th he will not be allowed to play in the AHL next season?

I'm not 100%, but I'm pretty sure. Olen Zellweger pretty much proves that.

There may be some details though like it can't be an AHL tryout he has to be under NHL contract, or he has to have a contract at the beginning of the season (Ritchie didn't Zellweger did), because the CBA can be murky with the details.

Pretty sure it is different when their CHL team is done for the season. Also, there is definitely a seasons played/rostered clause because Shane Wright was eligible this year despite not turning 20 until January

Wright was actually given an exemption by the CHL.

He could have played at the end of this season even if he wasn't 20, because there's also a 4 CHL season qualification, but he was given an exemption to go before the season was over. As you mention, he didn't turn 20 until after the Dec 31st cutoff.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I'm not 100%, but I'm pretty sure. Olen Zellweger pretty much proves that.

There may be some details though like it can't be an AHL tryout he has to be under NHL contract, or he has to have a contract at the beginning of the season (Ritchie didn't Zellweger did), because the CBA can be murky with the details.



Wright was actually given an exemption by the CHL.

He could have played at the end of this season even if he wasn't 20, because there's also a 4 CHL season qualification, but he was given an exemption to go before the season was over. As you mention, he didn't turn 20 until after the Dec 31st cutoff.

I didn't know this could be done. If it is the case then yes I agree with you that it would be very advantageous to the Avs to have play some games in the AHL this season after Oshawa is done. Those few AHL games along with next TC, pre-season games and possibly 9 NHL games would go a long way in assessing if he is an option for next season.

 

[tigervixxxen]

So that I am cleared on this...

Ritchie could play in the AHl this season once Oshawa is done for the season but because he is not 20 yrs old by Dec 15th he will not be allowed to play in the AHL next season?

I didn't know this could be done. If it is the case then yes I agree with you that it would be very advantageous to the Avs to have play some games in the AHL this season after Oshawa is done. Those few AHL games along with next TC, pre-season games and possibly 9 NHL games would go a long way in assessing if he is an option for next season.

He needs a contract first to get 9 games, which I’m skeptical he’s getting one this spring, the Avs love to withhold contracts to make the players earn them. They don’t give CHL prospects trials anyway though.

Yes he can play in the AHL this spring, we’ll see if they do that. He can’t play in the AHL next year because he’s contractually obligated to the CHL, he’s not going to go to Europe either for that reason. I would not want him going to the AHL a season early though, that benefits nobody.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

He needs a contract first to get 9 games, which I’m skeptical he’s getting one this spring, the Avs love to withhold contracts to make the players earn them. They don’t give CHL prospects trials anyway though.

Yes he can play in the AHL this spring, we’ll see if they do that. He can’t play in the AHL next year because he’s contractually obligated to the CHL, he’s not going to go to Europe either for that reason. I would not want him going to the AHL a season early though, that benefits nobody.

An argument could be made that playing a 4th OHL season where he turns 20 years old 4 months into the season benefits nobody as well.

 

[LTCPain75]

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Should be speaking to him next week.

 

[Ceremony]

Should be speaking to him next week.

Ask him what number he's going to wear since 21 is retired.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Ask him what number he's going to wear since 21 is retired.

He'll wear 12

 

[Mighty Makar]

He'll wear 12

No, he won’t.

 

[Avs9296]

Should be speaking to him next week.

Ask him what he thinks about the comparison between him and a poor man's Dylan Strome.

 

[Ceremony]

Ask him if he thinks he's worth more than Sean Monahan.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Ask him what he thinks about the comparison between him and a poor man's Dylan Strome.

Actually made me snort coffee. Too funny...

@The Mars Volchenkov, you should ask him if and how frequently he visits hfboards. I know at least some of these prospects must have frequented this place in their early-mid teens, wonder if they ever just log back on to read and get some um... different perspectives.