Cal Ritchie decision coming soon

What will the Avalanche do with its new rookie?

Colorado Avalanche forward Cal Ritchie was the talk of the town all offseason. He went into rookie camp in July unsigned and was miles better than anyone else in attendance. He finally signed his ELC days after camp, and seemingly stuck around Denver all summer, skating and working hard to be a part of camp in September.

After impressing yet again at rookie camp and the ensuing tournament, he would be a part of training camp and impress in preseason, earning a roster spot. Ever since starting the season well, he has slowed down.

Now it’s decision time for the Avalanche. Ritchie’s game Tuesday night against the Seattle Kraken was his seventh in the NHL. If he plays more than nine games in the first year of his entry-level contract, the first year of said contract is burned. Has Ritchie earned the right for the first year of his contract to be burned?

If you asked this a week ago, some might have said yes. Ritchie had just scored his first career NHL goal against the New York Islanders on a beautifully set play in front, and been part of the top six which was absent of several key players. But, it’s his only point of the season so far.

Since then, Ritchie has fallen from top-line prowess with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, to floundering on the third line, which has arguably been the worst line this season for the Avalanche. he started off great, but has certainly tapered off from where he was. Ritchie’s game in Seattle was far from promising and the most recent example of this, when he only had three shifts in the final two periods and only saw 6:45 total ice time.

Ritchie may only have a couple of games left against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday and then the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night. Even then, Jared Bednar may already have his mind set on whether or not to send Ritchie back to the OHL with the Oshawa Generals – where the 19-year-old would tear it up.

But, there may be some reasoning as to why the organization might decide to keep Ritchie with them after Sunday’s game versus Ottawa. This is because there are still unknowns in the forward positions.

Artturi Lehkonen looks to be on track to return after being reevaluated on October 28, just the day after Ritchie’s ninth NHL game. Jonathan Drouin’s timeline is uncertain, and he only started skating for the first time since his injury on Tuesday.

Of course, there are still the unknowns of Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog. While Nichushkin is back in Denver and on track to return as soon as he is reinstated, Landeskog’s path to return is still unknown. Those are four forwards alone who were missing, and Ritchie played a part in playing in their relief.

Should anyone have any sort of longer-term setback between now and Sunday, Ritchie may have solidified himself a roster spot. Then the Avalanche may have to worry less about cap shenanigans and losing someone like Chris Wagner on waivers when calling someone up from the Colorado Eagles.

We shall see what’s in store in the coming days for the young phenom. Nonetheless, if this is it for the 2024-25 season for Ritchie in an Avalanche uniform, it’s been a crazy fun ride – and it certainly won’t be the last time he hits the ice at Ball Arena.