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

[henchman21]

Mitts is primarily a playmaker, everyone who had watched him previously knew this. What they need to do is actually give him stable linemates to build some chemistry with, rather than just desperately hoping that by giving MacKinnon all the good wingers that he'll pout less.

And Mitts has been fantastic in the playoffs. Nobody should have the narrative that he's been disappointing.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

And Mitts has been fantastic in the playoffs. Nobody should have the narrative that he's been disappointing.

On top of that, expecting Calum to come in and score goals as another primary playmaker is kinda funny

 

[henchman21]

On top of that, expecting Calum to come in and score goals as another primary playmaker is kinda funny

Yup... I don't blame people for not watching a ton of junior hockey, but expectations have gotten way too high around him. He's a good prospect and had the year you should expect out of a good prospect. There isn't much to say he's NHL ready or that he can step in and be a 30g #2C in the NHL next season... there's actually a lot against that idea.

 

[Chiarelli]

Yup... I don't blame people for not watching a ton of junior hockey, but expectations have gotten way too high around him. He's a good prospect and had the year you should expect out of a good prospect. There isn't much to say he's NHL ready or that he can step in and be a 30g #2C in the NHL next season... there's actually a lot against that idea.

I never thought the above but do you think he could hold down a 2nd or 3rd line wing role at some point next season?

 

[henchman21]

I never thought the above but do you think he could hold down a 2nd or 3rd line wing role at some point next season?

He could probably break in on the wing. I don't think it would be best for him, but I also don't think it would be a big deal. I wouldn't slot him in on the 3rd line though, not unless the Avs change their style of 3rd line. He's not a high energy, crash and bang guy. He'd be wildly out of place trying to make that work.

 

[pont]

Based on the information shared about Nuke yesterday, I am soooo happy we did not trade this kid at the deadline. I am liking what I am reading and seeing on YouTube and various media on him for sure.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

We need Ritchie to be our Wyatt Johnston

 

[Chiarelli]

We need Ritchie to be our Wyatt Johnston

lol no pressure. No way he becomes this level of player imo.

 

[The Abusement Park]

After what we saw from Mittlestadt in the Dallas series, this joke might not be that funny anymore.

Avs need a 2C who can put the puck in the net.

I mean… dudes playing with the corpse of Parise, has 8pts in 9 games and defensively has been fantastic this postseason. Pair him with a damn shooter and quit giving him scraps and he somehow looks even better.

 

[Ararana]

I mean… dudes playing with the corpse of Parise, has 8pts in 9 games and defensively has been fantastic this postseason. Pair him with a damn shooter and quit giving him scraps and he somehow looks even better.

I'm not denying that Mitts has been on the crap end of getting good wingers. It's not all his fault, but the end result is the same. Dallas is just daring the second line to do something and they're not.

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

I mean… dudes playing with the corpse of Parise, has 8pts in 9 games and defensively has been fantastic this postseason. Pair him with a damn shooter and quit giving him scraps and he somehow looks even better.

Exactly. He is not Kadri. Kadri is more of a goal scorer. Mitts needs guys who can score with him. He is pass first.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

After what we saw from Mittlestadt in the Dallas series, this joke might not be that funny anymore.

Avs need a 2C who can put the puck in the net.

Avs could use a 1C, 1RW, 1LW, 1D, 2D who can also put the puck in the net.

I don't get why you would call Mitts out for this when the entire team is playing like shit and there have been stretches where he's the best top-six forward we have.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Avs could use a 1C, 1RW, 1LW, 1D, 2D who can also put the puck in the net.

I don't get why you would call Mitts out for this when the entire team is playing like shit and there have been stretches where he's the best top-six forward we have.

Doesn't Cogs have 2 assists in the last 3 games?

He's the best scoring forward at this point.

 

[The Abusement Park]

I'm not denying that Mitts has been on the crap end of getting good wingers. It's not all his fault, but the end result is the same. Dallas is just daring the second line to do something and they're not.

I mean we could look at the top line/Makar who have been way worse than Mitts this series than Mitts. I mean shit Mitts has the same amount of goals and less point than Mack this series with no PP time. Mitts is so far from a problem right now.

 

[ABasin]

Yup... I don't blame people for not watching a ton of junior hockey, but expectations have gotten way too high around him. He's a good prospect and had the year you should expect out of a good prospect. There isn't much to say he's NHL ready or that he can step in and be a 30g #2C in the NHL next season... there's actually a lot against that idea.

But could he come in and be a 18g 2W in the NHL next season? That could be very interesting.

Or (given the Avs could have their 1C/2C lined up for a number of years with a Mitts extension) is he trade bait?

 

[expatriatedtexan]

But could he come in and be a 18g 2W in the NHL next season? That could be very interesting.

Or (given the Avs could have their 1C/2C lined up for a number of years with a Mitts extension) is he trade bait?

Ritchie + Rantanen + Nuke for Sidney. I could get behind that. MacK would just have to be Rantanen's replacement at RW to make the cap work.

 

[niwotsblessing]

After what we saw from Mittlestadt in the Dallas series, this joke might not be that funny anymore.

Avs need a 2C who can put the puck in the net.

In the game I watched last night Mitts had the only goal scored by the Avs.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

We need Ritchie to be our Wyatt Johnston

More likely to be a Wyatt Smith.

 

[niwotsblessing]

More likely to be a Wyatt Smith.

How about Wyatt Earp?

 

[expatriatedtexan]

More likely to be a Wyatt Smith.

He will forever be "Wyatt Smith, superstar" in my memory.

Was it you that gave him that moniker?

How about Wyatt Earp?

He's apparently been placed in stage 3 of the player assistance program.

 

[Perratrooper]

Yup... I don't blame people for not watching a ton of junior hockey, but expectations have gotten way too high around him. He's a good prospect and had the year you should expect out of a good prospect. There isn't much to say he's NHL ready or that he can step in and be a 30g #2C in the NHL next season... there's actually a lot against that idea.

Does he have the ability to play at a good third line level (either at center or wing) ignoring how our third line is currently constructed?

The tape I’ve seen of him, nothing really stands out as being phenomenal. He seems to be good at most things, but not necessarily great at anything.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

Does he have the ability to play at a good third line level (either at center or wing) ignoring how our third line is currently constructed?

The tape I’ve seen of him, nothing really stands out as being phenomenal. He seems to be good at most things, but not necessarily great at anything.

You never know when a kid is ripe, but I don't think you can ever tell if a kid is up to the challenge. I feel there is a difference. When a kid is ripe, it's obvious there's nothing left for him at any other level. He needs to be moved up. Ryan O'Reilley was up to the challenge. He forced his way on to the team. I don't think anyone truly believed, other than ROR and his family and maybe RIAL, until the regular season started and he got games against actual NHL teams and continued to be an absolute defensive stud.

Is Ritchie up to the challenge? Who the heck knows, but I certainly wouldn't pencil him in the lineup any higher than the 4th line. You can easily snag a passable regular season waiver replacement and move him down in nine games if necessary. Not so easy to do that if you went and penciled him in on the second or third.

 

[henchman21]

Does he have the ability to play at a good third line level (either at center or wing) ignoring how our third line is currently constructed?

The tape I’ve seen of him, nothing really stands out as being phenomenal. He seems to be good at most things, but not necessarily great at anything.

Yeah in a system like Dallas employs where it is a more skilled third line he could handle himself well enough. Not sure it would be best for him, but I don’t think he’d be horrible either.

Yeah he doesn’t have a ton of standout skills that look like a thing to rely on at the top level.

IMO the biggest question for him is utilizing his frame and being a dirty area player. He doesn’t like to be leaned on and won’t love in those areas. If he develops there, there is enough skill to be a good 2nd liner. If he doesn’t develop there, he’ll disappoint a couple orgs before being a middle 6 guy on a bad team. Fine line, but certainly something he’s capable of.

 

[Perratrooper]

Yeah in a system like Dallas employs where it is a more skilled third line he could handle himself well enough. Not sure it would be best for him, but I don’t think he’d be horrible either.

Yeah he doesn’t have a ton of standout skills that look like a thing to rely on at the top level.

IMO the biggest question for him is utilizing his frame and being a dirty area player. He doesn’t like to be leaned on and won’t love in those areas. If he develops there, there is enough skill to be a good 2nd liner. If he doesn’t develop there, he’ll disappoint a couple orgs before being a middle 6 guy on a bad team. Fine line, but certainly something he’s capable of.

I will say that from what I’ve seen he has improved on going to those dirty areas this year. Still a large area to work on, but I wonder if there’s something to be worked on with a Landeskog type winger.

 

[Pokecheque]

After what we saw from Mittlestadt in the Dallas series, this joke might not be that funny anymore.

Avs need a 2C who can put the puck in the net.

He was literally the only goal scorer for the Avs last game.