What Happens If Calum Ritchie Forces Islanders’ Hand At Training Camp?

Ritchie has seven games of NHL experience and looked like a man amongst boys at Islanders development camp.

Knowing that the New York Islanders are planning to separate Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat—and aren’t planning to move Jean-Gabriel Pageau—it seems their center depth is set for the start of the 2025-26 season.

What that most likely means is that top center prospect Calum Ritchie will begin the season with the Bridgeport Islanders and will likely be the first player recalled if there’s an injury.

Talking with Jeff Marek, we both agree that Ritchie—who made the Colorado Avalanche out of training camp last season but was returned to juniors after seven NHL games (he scored one goal, which came against the Islanders)—should get 30 or so games under Rocky Thompson.

That 30-game mark leads into Bridgeport’s Christmas break, a good sample size.

GM Mathieu Darche understands the importance of development, and I don’t think it’s in the team's best interest to rush a 20-year-old.

However, as we may see with No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, what if Ritchie forces the Islanders’ hand at training camp and makes the team?

Ritchie is a center, and I believe that’s where he should play at the NHL level.

Yes, it’s easier for a center to go to the wing rather than vice versa, but given Ritchie’s possession and facilitator skills, moving him to the wing isn’t ideal.

But if he’s making the Islanders out of camp, head coach Patrick Roy isn’t going to have him sitting in the press box—there’s no point in that.

While separating Barzal and Horvat puts more pressure on the opposition in terms of matchups, we know how good those two are together.

The reality is that, with Brock Nelson gone, the Islanders weren’t able to land a No. 2 center in free agency to fill that hole. The hope is that Ritchie, at some point in the near future, can be that guy.

But is Ritchie ready for a top-six role as soon as this season?