EXCLUSIVE: Inside The Bond Between Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer & Calum Ritchie
From the World Juniors to Long Island, the two youngsters have become good friends. Stefen Rosner spoke to both of them about the friendship.
ELMONT, NY — The future is now for the New York Islanders. No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, 18, has quickly risen to the top of the club’s blue-line depth chart.
Despite a brief pit stop in Bridgeport, two-way center Calum Ritchie, 20, has turned himself into an NHL staple.
While both are navigating their rookie seasons — Ritchie’s second NHL stint after being returned to juniors following seven games with the Colorado Avalanche last season — they’ve been able to lean on plenty of tremendous veterans.
But they’ve also leaned on each other.