“It Nonetheless Hasn’t Actually Hit Me” Colorado Avalanche High Prospect Makes Opening Evening Roster; Large Loss For Oshawa Generals

Guelph Storm’s finest participant Jett Luchanko is not the one high OHL participant to have made his NHL staff’s opening night time roster. Oshawa Generals’ number-one heart Calum Ritchie has made the Colorado Avalanche’s roster to begin the 2024-25 NHL season.

“It nonetheless hasn’t actually hit me,” he instructed the Colorado media following the staff’s follow on Tuesday. “It’s clearly been a dream of mine since I used to be a child and my household’s coming down (to Vegas) so it’ll be superior to share that with them.”

The Avalanche are one in every of many groups within the NHL who’re near the cap restrict and having a particularly proficient younger ahead on his entry-level contract are available in and play a top-nine position is one thing they’re hoping Ritchie can present this season.

To not point out the accidents to former Kitchener Ranger Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin nonetheless away from the staff within the Gamers Help Program.

As per The Hockey News’ lineups page for Colorado, Ritchie is slotted to begin the season on the staff’s second line on proper wing with Nikolai Kovalenko and Casey Mittelstadt. He’s anticipated to make his NHL debut Wednesday night time on the fortress because the Avalanche tackle the Vegas Golden Knights

The twenty seventh general decide within the 2023 NHL Entry Draft actually has the talent degree and confidence to take that subsequent step ahead and play within the NHL, as you possibly can inform by his insane pretend and aim within the video beneath.

“I’m fairly assured myself, however I feel even when I’d have mentioned this may occur like a few months in the past, it nonetheless would’ve been fairly onerous to imagine,” Ritchie mentioned.

“I feel I play a sensible sport and I feel I’ve proven my offensive instincts,” Ritchie continued. “However I wanted to work on the defensive facet by way of camp and pre-season and I feel I did that and acquired higher at it. It’s nonetheless a piece in progress however I’ve been enhancing slowly.”

Related: Guelph Storm Forward Will Start The Year With Philadelphia Flyers

If Colorado’s high prospect desires to remain up with the large membership and keep away from being despatched again to junior, he might want to earn the belief of his new Head Coach Jared Bednar on the defensive facet of the puck.

“I feel he is a assured participant regardless, he understands the skillset that he has. Generally in all probability somewhat too assured,” mentioned Bednar concerning Ritchie.

“The choice-making a part of it for me is an space he wants to enhance. He has the power to make performs all around the ice and I wish to give him the liberty to do this. However, if it is a 1-on-3 and operating out of room, not making an attempt to make one thing out of nothing, play for possession on the offensive zone blueline, and make good choices to get pucks deep.”

Bednar famous that Ritchie was in all probability capable of make a variety of performs in uncomfortable conditions whereas taking part in within the OHL, however the NHL is a distinct beast, and his time and area will shut a lot faster. Nonetheless, he believes his rookie can be taught shortly as an clever playmaking ahead.

It is a large loss for the reigning Jap Convention Champions. The Generals are with out their three high centermen from final season — Calum Ritchie, Dylan Roobroeck, and Rasmus Kumpulainen.

Kumpulainen has returned house to play within the Finnish Elite League Liiga and Roobroeck’s taking part in designation for the 2024-25 season remains to be in query. The staff’s lack of depth down the center of the ice confirmed after they moved newly acquired winger Colby Barlow to heart of their sport in opposition to Barrie on Sunday.

Related: Oshawa Generals Complete Massive Deal With Owen Sound, Acquire Winnipeg Jets First-Rounder Colby Barlow

Because it stands immediately, Oshawa’s high two facilities are second-year ahead Owen Griffin and I assume Colby Barlow. There’s a variety of strain on the shoulders of 2025 draft prospect Griffin now who wants to indicate that he has taken that subsequent step ahead in his improvement and may be trusted as a top-six heart on a staff with Championship aspirations.

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