A new era in hockey prospect development began when the NCAA voted to allow Canadian junior hockey players to leave the Canadian Hockey League and join the college ranks. The move has resulted in several top prospects leaving their junior teams and committing to American college programs.
One of those prospects is Ryder Ritchie, the Minnesota Wild’s 2024 second-round pick. Ritchie recently committed to play at Boston University, a move that should pay significant dividends for his development.
People are already hyping Ritchie as a Wild prospect. Hockey Wilderness ranked him as the organization’s No. 7 prospect coming into last season, and he only built on that potential in last year’s campaign.
Ritchie used his explosive offensive tools to tally 61 points (29 goals and 32 assists) in 53 Western Hockey League games for the Medicine Hat Tigers. The forward from Calgary continued his strong form in the playoffs, scoring 18 points in 18 games on the way to a Memorial Cup appearance.
While Ritchie has already established himself as an intriguing prospect, Boston University will provide fertile ground for him to develop his game further.
BU has a storied history, with five national championships, 25 Frozen Four appearances, and several notable alums who have gone on to make an impact in the NHL. Since 2015, 15 Terriers have been drafted in the first round of the NHL draft, including stars like Jack Eichel, Charlie McAvoy, Jake Oettinger, and Macklin Celebrini.
Head coach Jay Pandolfo has led BU to the national tournament in all three of his seasons since they hired him in 2022.
Ritchie will be joining a program with winning aspirations, a roster filled with high-level prospects, and a strong track record of preparing players for the NHL.
The move to the NCAA is an excellent opportunity for any prospect, but it could be especially impactful for Ritchie, given his specific needs and strengths.
One of the primary benefits will be getting Ritchie ready for a more pro-style game. According to EliteProspects, he’s 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. That’s more than enough size to play in the junior league, where players are much younger.
In the NCAA, Ritchie will be playing against older players who have already filled out their frames. Ritchie has NHL size; he just needs to grow into it. That will happen at BU with a world-class nutrition and strength and conditioning program.
Ritchie’s physical growth will be significant for strengthening his defensive game. While experts already recognize him for his creativity and offensive flair, Ritchie’s two-way play remains an area for improvement.
That perceived lack of defensive upside isn’t due to a lack of effort, though. Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff states that “Ritchie can take over shifts with his high energy and workhorse attitude.” Meanwhile, DobberProspects notes that the player has “great energy on the forecheck.”
If Ritchie continues to put in high-energy shifts, his defensive impact could improve significantly as he grows into an NHL body. College hockey’s pace and physical demands should help him sharpen that part of his game faster than staying in juniors would.
Ritchie’s jump to Boston University should help him shore up some areas of weakness. However, BU is also a solid choice due to its track record of working with prospects that match Ritchie’s skill set.
As his defensive game develops, Ritchie’s offensive toolkit, already his most significant asset, should become even more impactful at the college level.
Let’s take a look at some of Ritchie’s best skills. Ritchie is best known for his creativity offensively as a playmaker, puck handler, and scorer. He’s a quick and shifty skater who has a “cannon of a shot,” according to DobberProspects. Boston University has experience developing prospects with Ritchie’s unique blend of skills.
For example, Trevor Zegras excelled as a Terrier in his lone college season in 2019-20 before making his NHL debut. Scouting reports from Zegras’ draft year highlighted similar strengths to Ritchie’s: elite playmaking, dynamic skating, and a dangerous shot.
Zegras is one of the best playmakers in this class who can make unique plays by using his dynamic passing ability.
-Hockeyprospect.com 2019
A slippery and shifty skater, he has exceptional foot mechanics and clean edges that allow him to be evasive.
-Future Considerations 2019
Although creating for others is his specialist, he has a hell of a shot, too.
-McKeen’s Hockey 2019
(Source: Eliteprospects.com)
Zegras is far from the only former Terrier who profiles similarly to Ritchie. Cole Eiserman is a BU forward with an eye-popping shot and developed a high work-rate game in college last year by using his skating and energy to contribute offensively. While Ritchie’s shot doesn’t quite compare with Eiserman’s, having the opportunity to play with that level of scorer should also elevate his game.
Boston University is a fantastic fit for Ritchie. The rigors of college hockey should allow the forward to accelerate his progress in areas where he needs improvement. BU will accentuate his strengths, and they’ve demonstrated the ability to prepare prospects with Ritchie’s skills for the next level.
Ritchie’s commitment to Boston University presents an opportunity for the Wild to refine an already promising offensive weapon into a more well-rounded player. There’s still a long road to go for the 18-year-old prospect, but he made a wise decision signing with BU.