A Talk With Avs 2023 First-Round Pick Calum Ritchie
It was quite a good 2023-24 season for Calum Ritchie, the Avalanche’s first-round pick in 2023 (27th overall). Much better than good, in fact.
In 59 games for the Oshawa Generals, Ritchie had 28 goals and 52 assists, then scored 30 points in 21 playoff games for a Generals team that played for the Memorial Cup before losing to London of the OHL.
A shoulder injury kept Ritchie from being drafted higher last year, and it was to the Avs’ good fortune that he slipped that far. If the draft were held again, with the same players? I would bet Ritchie would go in the top 10.
The biggest question Ritchie faces for the 2024-25 season: will he play for either the Avalanche or the Generals? It can only be one of the two. Because he won’t turn 20 until January, he won’t be eligible to play in the American Hockey League, for the Colorado Eagles, in the regular season. AHL players must be at least 20 to play.
Ritchie will be at Avalanche development camp next month and on skates, unlike last year, when the shoulder injury was still being treated.
On Wednesday, I spent some time talking with the 6-foot-2, 190-pound center, starting with the question: if you have to go back to junior, are you worried it might be a “wasted” season in your development, etc?
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