Later in the first round, the Philadelphia Flyers own the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft along with their 7th overall selection. It makes sense to draft a right-handed defenseman later in the first round to fill an organizational need.
However, there will be some enticing forwards on the board when Daniel Briere steps up to the podium for the second time.
Calum Ritchie
Ritchie, a C on the Oshawa Generals in the OHL, is the 13th ranked North American skater, per NHL Central Scouting.
He wore the ‘A’ on his sweater in his second season with the Generals, totaling 59 points (24G, 35A) in as many games. Ritchie represented Canada at the U18 World Junior Championship, posting nine points (3G, 6A) in seven games.
Strengths
Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 187lbs, Ritchie is a modern-day power forward. He won’t run over skaters or constantly look for the big hit, but Ritchie uses his size to block off opponents to extend possessions.
Ritchie isn’t the fastest or most agile skater, but he moves with power. His opening strides are explosive, helping him achieve his top speed at a rapid pace. Once Ritchie is moving, it is hard to knock him off the puck. His size and power help shield defenders off the puck through traffic.
He has a hefty shot. If Ritchie has space, he can find the net with pinpoint accuracy and power. He is an average playmaker, however. Ritchie misses the high-end playmaking capabilities others have in this draft class, but still possesses the tools to get the job done. As a playmaker, his strengths reside in cross-ice passing and moving defenders out of position with deception.
In transition, Ritchie is consistent. He will block shots, defend low, and keep an active stick to disrupt passes. Most importantly, Ritchie is strong at the faceoff dot.
His playing style resembles flashes of Alex Tuch and Boone Jenner. Ritchie could be a solid top-six NHL forward.
Weaknesses
Ritchie plays a relatively air-tight game, but like all prospects, there are details he has to improve upon to be consistent in the NHL.
First, his speed and skating agility require improvement. Combine those improvements with his power, and Ritchie will become more dynamic when entering with the puck and in transition.
Secondly, he could become more creative with the puck on his stick. In his role, Ritchie will drive plays into the offensive zone, and with a higher sense of creativity, his line play will drastically improve with his teammates. Down the middle, he could facilitate more scoring chances for the Flyers.
These criticisms are easily coachable. Ritchie needs a few tweaks to unlock further potential before arriving in the NHL.
Does he fit Philadelphia?
Ritchie is a C who would fit the John Tortorella system in place.
If any of the desired right-handed defensemen are off the board when the Flyers make their selection with the 22nd overall pick, Ritchie could be an option. Choosing Ritchie would immediately improve depth at C, providing another strong addition to a rising young offense.
(Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)
