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Anaheim Ducks Nick Ritchie, LW They’re Looking For?

By Chris Bushell

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Who should play left wing on the Anaheim Ducks top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry?

Ever since Bobby Ryan was traded it has been an ongoing question in Anaheim and around the hockey world. Just a few days ago, ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun wrote another column asking if the Anaheim Ducks will find a permanent solution to what has been a revolving door for some time now. Lebrun touched on the numerous players who have had a chance at the coveted role and how they have fared.

Most recently Patrick Maroon has held the position with varying levels of success. At times Maroon looked like the perfect complement to Getzlaf and Perry. He’s big bodied, can possess the puck, plays a cycling style and is the beneficiary of playing with two of the top players in the NHL.

That’s extremely evident by his 9-25-34 stat line last regular season in 71 games and his 7-4-11 stat line in the postseason. But at times he looks out of place on the top line.

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There were stretches, especially in the playoffs, where he looked slow, out of place and out matched with other teams top lines playing against him. I like Maroon a lot as a player and think he is a good fit with the Ducks.

But if we’re being fair, he isn’t a top line player. He doesn’t have the skill set or level to be there and without Getzlaf and Perry he’s a bottom 6 forward.

So who could take the spot next to the twins?

Jakob Silfverberg or Carl Hagelin? Both could be candidates but the two of them on a line with Ryan Kesler as a pivot that sounds much better.

Jiri Sekac? Potentially, and he’s shown flashes that he deserves it and the speed factor he has could add something to the line but I think the answer lies with a player currently in the Ducks pipeline, Nick Ritchie.

As I am writing this, Ritchie is still with the Ducks and has made it through all of the cuts the Ducks have made to this point.

Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks /

Anaheim Ducks

Ritchie was taken in the 1st round (10th overall) by the Ducks back in 2014 and lit Canadian Juniors up. While playing for both the Peterborough Petes and Soo Greyhounds from 2011-2015, Ritchie totaled 102 goals, 108 assists, for 210 points in 213 games.

Virtually a point per game for someone playing in Canadian Juniors as a 15 year old to start and 19 year old this past season. That’s unbelievable and he’s clearly showed he’s ready for the next step.

Ritchie has clearly been able to impress so far as the Ducks staff has kept him with the big club all throughout camp. Ritchie is 6’2” 237lbs and still growing and maturing as he won’t turn 20 until December. He has the size to play on a line with Getzlaf and Perry and actually would outweigh both his line-mates.

Ritchie is a power-forward and would be a fast, young, tough compliment on the Ducks top line.

“Ritchie has all the makings of a prototypical, Eric Lindros-type power forward. A big bodied winger with smooth hands and a shooting touch, he is not overly aggressive to make the big hit, but when he does make contact he’s probably one of the smoothest hitters in the game. As with any player his size, his agility and flexibility are two areas that could improve. But he has dominated at the junior level and should be effective as he continues to develop.”

This is the talent analysis for Ritchie from Hockeysfuture.com and what they stated sounds like top line qualities to me. Of course, he has things to work on but he’s 19, and playing alongside Getzlaf and Perry will expedite that learning curve.

He has a blend of size which the Ducks love and speed that the Ducks are looking to add. In a season that is Cup or bust for the Ducks, Ritchie on the top line would go a long way to bringing a second Cup to Anaheim.

Next: Anaheim Ducks Lineup Offers A Sneak Peek

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