Anaheim Ducks Have Three Prospects in ESPN’s Top Prospects List
By Jason Byun
Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Nicholas Ritchie poses for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
No. 50: Nick Ritchie, LW
Nick Ritchie appears as the 50th ranked prospect on Pronman’s top-50 list. Ritchie has a tantalizing combination of size, skill, and strength, but he has not seemingly put them all together to impress consistently.
"What a conundrum Ritchie presents. He’s an elite physical forward with speed and skill; he has the tools to dominate. I’ve seen some great games from him where he looks like a top player, but so often he just seems to leave you wanting more. His consistency, his off-puck reads, and especially his lack of discipline are red flags for me as of now."
Ritchie was also selected for Team Canada’s WJC squad, but was one of the team’s least impressive forwards. He was tied with Frederik Gauthier of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the fewest points among forwards for Team Canada (one, a goal). His off-ice behavior has come into question as well: he was one of five Peterborough Petes suspended one game for egging a car.
On the ice, Ritchie’s biggest thing will be finding consistency. He has all the tools to succeed, and when he is on his game, he can be a force that is difficult to stop. The key for him will be finding a way to channel his talents into continued success on the ice, instead of having stretches of strong play in spurts. He has drawn comparisons to Rick Nash of the New York Rangers, who is tied with Tyler Seguin and Steven Stamkos for the goal-scoring lead in the NHL (26).
Ritchie has 39 goals and 74 points in 61 games for Peterborough last season. He scored 14 goals and 32 points in 25 games for the Petes this season before being traded to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he has five goals and six points in four games. Ritchie was taken by the Ducks with the 10th overall pick in the 2014 draft with the selection they received from the Ottawa Senators in the Bobby Ryan deal.
Next: No. 2 Goalie: A Potential Superstar