The Colorado Avalanche sent top prospect Calum Ritchie back to the OHL’s Oshawa Generals on Wednesday after watching the 19-year-old make the team out of training camp.
Ritchie only had one goal in seven games and saw his ice time decrease throughout his seven games. But in order to preserve the first year of his NHL entry-level contract, the Avalanche decided to let him go back to junior hockey and play a key role in the Generals’ attack.
But should he have stuck around longer? Tyler Yaremchuk and Frank Seravalli discussed the topic on Thursday’s edition of Daily Faceoff Live:
Tyler Yaremchuk: “Colorado jumped ahead and made a decision on Cal Richie, sending him back to that surprise you given the lack of quality depth options the Avs currently have in their lineup.”
Frank Seravalli: Yeah, I have to say it broke my heart because I picked Cal Richie as a breakout star of the season. It’s going to be hard to do that when you’re playing in the OHL. So really disappointing for me because I think he has so much promise. (Daily Faceoff prospect analyst) Steven Ellis will tell you that he is maybe the smartest prospect in hockey. He’s got an incredible gift and skillset.
“And I know a ton of NHL teams that watched him last year in the OHL and said, “This guy does not have a single more thing to prove there.” So, that, coupled with the fact that the abs are so thin, maybe they’re thinking long-term. They’re going to need guys on their ELC in the future so that they can extend that out.
“But, man, I thought he was ready. Yeah. And I mean, I think to not to use this word again, but (he’s) mature. I think you could look at that forward group and be like, “Oh, he’s better than him and him and him and him and him,” and go through a handful of names. But there’s value in having the ELC a year later and value in the player’s proper development. If you don’t think you’re going to give him the minutes necessary for him to actually grow as a player, then you got to do something. All he needs is the minutes. He’s so aware he can be put in any situation.”
