Schaefer, Now Ritchie Usher In A New Era Of Islanders Hockey
Calum Ritchie debuts for the Islanders with a chance to stick long-term and help define New York’s youth-focused future.
New York Islanders fans have already seen the club’s top defense prospect and No. 1 overall pick, Matthew Schaefer, shine on the big stage. Now, on Friday night against the Washington Capitals, they’ll get their first look at the organization’s top forward prospect, Calum Ritchie, in action for a regular-season game wearing Blue & Orange.
Ritchie was expected to be recalled and play Thursday in Carolina in place of the tardy Mathew Barzal, but weather issues prevented him from getting to Raleigh in time. Now, the 20-year-old will get his opportunity — and a real chance to prove he deserves to stay with the team long-term.
Where Ritchie fits in the lineup remains a question. Does he immediately jump into a top-six role, centering Barzal and Kyle Palmieri? Or does he begin in the bottom-six, either on the third or fourth line?
The third line of Anders Lee — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — and Simon Holmstrom has been too effective to split up. But it wouldn’t be surprising if Anthony Duclair dropped to the fourth line and Maxim Tsyplakov came out after Thursday’s loss, where both — along with many others — struggled.
There are options. But if the Islanders are calling up Ritchie, it’s because they believe he’s ready — and he is not a bottom-six player.
This organization, for years, had top-six-profile prospects and forced them into bottom-six roles early, perhaps stunting development and confidence. The likes of Michael Dal Colle, Oliver Wahlstrom, and Kiefer Bellows come to mind. None were destined to be top-line stars, but they also were never put in positions to succeed. The results showed.
Under new general manager Mathieu Darche, young players are being given the runway to show their value. With Schaefer, being just 18, it was understandable to start him on the third pair. But he quickly proved he could handle big minutes and bigger moments.
Ritchie’s game — especially his transition ability and his defensive reads — fits the modern NHL. Using him in the bottom six long-term doesn’t help him or the team when he could be playing top-line minutes in Bridgeport, which matters more in the Darche era.
Last season, Ritchie played seven NHL games for Colorado before being returned to juniors. During camp this year, he said he feels far more comfortable in his game and where he’s at in his development.
Jonathan Drouin, who played with Ritchie in Colorado, echoed that sentiment to The Elmonters:
“He looks more comfortable with the puck. Last year, Colorado was a hard team to crack, and he seemed a little nervous, which is normal. This year, he looks more comfortable. I told him last year, you have more time than you think. It’s the same game as juniors, just a little faster. He just seems more comfortable.”
Calling Ritchie up after just three AHL games shows how the organization views him: ready enough to make an impact now.
His puck-transport ability is truly elite — not an exaggeration. I’m not convinced he becomes a dominant first-line center, but he projects as a dynamic, two-way second-line center, at worst.
And if he plays well — and there’s a strong chance he does — expect him to stick.
Expect him to become another pillar of this “new era,” much like Schaefer, helping the Islanders steady themselves through what has been a shaky first 10 games.
Sometimes opportunity arrives early. The good ones seize it. Ritchie has the tools — and tonight, he finally gets the stage.
Islanders Close Out Road Trip vs. Capitals
After a rout at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, the New York Islanders (4-5-1) wrap up a four-game road trip against the Washington Capitals (6-4-0).
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The Islanders and Capitals met in New York’s first home game of the season on Oct. 11, with Washington picking up a 4-2 win. Aliaksei Protas had a pair of goals in the win for Washington, with Ryan Leonard scoring the game-winner in the second period. Among highlights for New York was a power play tally by Anthony Duclair and Matthew Schaefer’s first NHL goal.
History will be on the line once again as the teams take the ice. Alex Ovechkin is one goal away from becoming the first player in NHL history to record 900 goals. When the two teams met on April 6, the Washington captain broke the NHL’s all-time record for goals, scoring goal 895 at UBS Arena.
Ovechkin’s historic marker was Washington’s only one of the game, with Marc Gatcomb scoring twice in a 4-1 Islanders victory.
LINEUP UPDATES
With it being a back-to-back, the Islanders did not hold a morning skate with Patrick Roy talking this evening.
Ilya Sorokin (2-4-1, 3.75 GAA, .868 SV%) starts the second game of New York’s back-to-back
Last start: Tuesday vs. Boston — 4 goals on 21 shots in a loss
Mathew Barzal returns to the lineup after being scratched for disciplinary reasons on Thursday
Calum Ritchie to make his Islanders debut.
Marshall Warren has been returned to AHL Bridgeport
No lineup to report, but expect Maxim Tsyplakov to come out.
ISLANDERS NOTES
Bo Horvat & Kyle Palmieri each had two assists in the last meeting vs. Washington
Both have a goal and assist over their last two games
Anders Lee leads Islanders in goals vs. Washington: 13 in 44 games
Mathew Barzal leads in assists vs. Washington with 17, tied with Horvat for the team-high 22 points
Sorokin vs. Washington:
Last meeting: 4 goals on 29 shots in a loss
Career vs. WSH: 4-5-1, 2.41 GAA, .920 SV%
OPPONENT’S NOTES (WASHINGTON)
Coming off a 1-0 loss to Dallas
Tyler Seguin scored early in the 2nd
Jake Oettinger stopped 24 shots for a shutout
Aliaksei Protas had 3 points (2G, 1A) in the last game vs. the Islanders
Tom Wilson on 4-game point streak vs. NYI
2G, 3A in that span
Alex Ovechkin has points in 3 straight vs. NYI
1G, 2A in that stretch
Career vs. NYI: 45G, 71PTS in 74 games
John Carlson leads Caps in assists vs. NYI: 28
Logan Thompson (5-2-0, 1.44 GAA, .939 SV%) projected starter
Tough loss vs. Dallas: 1 GA on 19 shots
Career vs. NYI: 3-1-1, 2.57 GAA, .914 SV%
Last outing vs. NYI: 34 saves on 36 shots in a win
