Cal Ritchie has made a smooth transition in his first two games with the New York Islanders after being recalled from Bridgeport. The 20-year-old forward debuted in a 3-1 win over Washington and contributed to a 3-2 victory against Columbus. Playing alongside veterans Jonathan Drouin and Kyle Palmieri, Ritchie is absorbing advice and showing poise on the ice.
Nine games into his NHL career, Cal Ritchie joined the New York Islanders for his debut on Friday in a 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals. He started on the wing but shifted to center on a line with Jonathan Drouin and Kyle Palmieri. The trio continued together in Sunday's 3-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at UBS Arena, where Ritchie logged 13:56 of time on ice and recorded one shot on goal.
Ritchie's line has not allowed a shot on goal at five-on-five and generated four high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. Head Coach Patrick Roy praised Ritchie's preseason performance, saying, “He earned my trust during the preseason. It was hard to let him go to the minors. When the opportunity came to come back here, I was curious to see how he’d perform and he’s been playing extremely well.”
The young forward, who sustained a preseason injury and began the season in Bridgeport, is benefiting from veteran guidance. “I come off the ice every shift and get a little advice from [Head Coach Patrick] Roy, or [Assistant Coach] Ray Bennett or Jonathan Drouin or Kyle Palmieri,” Ritchie said. “It’s helpful for me, I just try to soak it in and try to learn as much as I can.”
Palmieri highlighted Ritchie's composure: “As a 20-year-old, to step in and play with that kind of poise is impressive. For Drouin and I, we want to make sure he’s playing his game.” Drouin, a former teammate with the Colorado Avalanche, noted Ritchie's growth: “His game is more mature. He had a good year in junior last year... He’s an offensive player, you want to let his skill shine.”
Ritchie follows a 70-point season with the Oshawa Generals and a seven-game NHL stint with Colorado last year. He is also reunited with World Juniors teammate Matthew Schaefer, adding energy to the Islanders locker room. Captain Bo Horvat added, “What stands out is his poise with the puck. He’s phenomenal on the power play... He’s just going to keep getting better.”