Ryder Ritchie looks like he can do it all, which is certainly making him attractive as a pick in the bottom third of this year’s NHL draft. There’s no general consensus on where he might land but his offensive talent is what has some scouts salivating over. He also has some NHL pedigree as his father Byron Ritchie played over 300 games for a myriad of teams including Florida, Carolina, Vancouver, and Calgary. Could the Flyers be in the running for Ryder Ritchie? Well for one he has size and talent. And with a moniker like Ryder Ritchie, it could be a name the Flyers fall in love it far more than a previous prospect named William something or other.
Pre-Draft Rankings
No. 22 by FC Hockey
No. 29 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
No. 17 by Sportsnet
No. 21 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
No. 27 by Elite Prospects
Statistics
What’s to like?
Ryder Ritchie is offensive-minded. Although he has some time to fill out somewhat physically, Ritchie managed to score 44 points for the lowly Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League this past season. This was after being named the WHL Rookie of the Year in 2022-23. He also had seven points in five playoff games for the Raiders. And he had nine points (three goals, six assists) in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup as a member of Team Canada. Ritchie also made his mark during the U18 World Champions recently with this slapper against Switzerland.
His speed is another plus to his game, being able to skate around the offensive zone and protecting the puck while looking for the opportunity to score. The smooth stride that’s garnered the attention of scouts has also enabled Ritchie to create distance from himself and the opposition whether he has the puck or is looking to get open for a scoring chance. What’s just as intriguing is Ritchie doesn’t need a lot of time to get to his optimal speed, seemingly finding that high gear before needing to shift into it.
Another plus to Ritchie’s game is his forechecking capabilities and work ethic, using his speed and smarts to anticipate reads by the opposing defensemen to either break up passes or just take away time and space from the blueliners. Simply put there is next to no quit in his game. It’s another aspect that complements his skill set, enabling him to cause a bit more havoc for the opposition.
Finally, Ritchie has a strong to above average hockey IQ. He’s able to read plays and see the ice extremely well, being a half-step to a full step ahead of his opponent trying to defend. His decision-making in the offensive zone could enable him to become a fine play-making forward in the pros.
What’s not to like?
Perhaps the one knock Ryder had to deal with this season was expectations. A lot of scouts prior to the start of the season had Ryder closing in on the top half of the 2024 NHL draft with others believing he could crack the top 10. An injury just before Christmas derailed a full season of play which also might have hurt his draft position. And recovering from that injury in the latter half of the season after being out for a couple of months certainly didn’t help matters.
Many scouts see all the tools Ryder has but believe he needs a bit more experience and development to avoid doing too much or trying to do everything himself at times, resulting in plays that are at best low percentage or at worst bad giveaways or turnovers. This is particularly true when it comes to his defensive play, sometimes trying to make a rash or hasty play to get the puck out. Some might argue at other times in games it’s a case of over-thinking plays which can lead to delay and eventually a missed opportunity or turnover. It’s not a case of reining in his offensive prowess but having Ryder reduce the simple mistakes in his play to make him even more effective in his NHL career.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Ryder would be a decent addition to the Flyers farm system, with ideally him becoming a strong top-six to middle-six forward with some power play upside. But with what looks like a glut of right wingers in the system combined with the likes of Tyson Foerster, Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett he would probably be a few years away from earning a roster spot in Philadelphia. If he’s the best available with the Flyers’ second pick in the first round it would be hard to pass on Ritchie.
Can the Flyers actually get him?
Depending on how far he dropped down the Flyers could conceivably use their second selection in the first round on Ryder. But it’s doubtful the Flyers would trade assets or other picks to move up and acquire Ryder. There are ample right wingers on the Flyers currently and more in the system so it might not be a perfect fit. If Ryder is still there in the low to mid-twenties of the first round he’d be a wise choice as you usually pick the most talented or best prospect available regardless of position. There is some discrepancy among scouting experts also as to where he exactly falls, ranging from a mid-round selection on the high side to a late first rounder on the low end.
What the scouts are saying
“Ritchie is a highly skilled, playmaking winger that utilizes his speed and shiftiness to his advantage. He has a decent-sized frame that helps him shield the puck from opponents along with a nice set of hands. What stands out to me is that he is clearly a player that brings energy and works hard on the forecheck.”
Mike Kennedy, FC Hockey
“At the Hlinka, Ritchie proved that he could play a complementary skill role. His clever short passes broke defences and elevated the talent of his line-mates.”
David St. Louis, EP Rinkside
Welcome to the poll…
Next up in the draft board is Terik Parascak, a high scoring winger from the Prince George Cougars of the WHL.
“Parascak’s off-puck timing and spatial awareness have defined his game, as he regularly gets into the right spots at the right time to bang home rebounds, tap in backdoor passes or get out in transition to give his D a stretch option on outlets (without really cheating for it). He anticipates play offensively and defensively at a very high level, knows how to get open and play to his linemates’ strengths, has a great wrister and one-touch shot from midrange, always goes to the net when the play funnels there instead of hanging out wide, and has skill around the net and in tight to his body when challenged by defenders. He also uses his linemates extremely well, has shown nice touch as a passer, and has easy handling ability.”
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
Previously on the 2024 Community Draft Board…
- Macklin Celebrini
- Ivan Demidov
- Artyom Levshunov
- Anton Silayev
- Cayden Lindstrom
- Sam Dickinson
- Zeev Buium
- Berkly Catton
- Zayne Parekh
- Konsta Helenius
- Tij Iginla
- Cole Eiserman
- Carter Yakemchuk
- Adam Jiricek
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
- Beckett Sennecke
- Liam Greentree
- Igor Chernyshov
- Sacha Boisvert
- Michael Hage
- Aron Kiviharju
- Andrew Basha
- Trevor Connelly
- Nikita Artamonov
- Ryder Ritchie
- ????
