During Cal Ritchie’s exit meeting with head coach Pete DeBoer last spring, the young Ritchie communicated that despite the practicalities that might prevent him from playing his preferred position, he sees himself as a centerman.
Lo and behold, after being shuffled to the wing following last trade deadline to accommodate Brayden Schenn’s arrival — and after an offseason in which he looked likely to remain there — Ritchie spent the first two days of camp in between Schenn and Matias Maccelli, the first choice to play in the spot originally designated for the injured Mathew Barzal.
As with any training camp configuration, this represents an opportunity more than an endpoint. The Islanders haven’t ruled Barzal out for opening night, unlikely as his return by then seems, and he’s not expected to miss a significant chunk of games with inflammation related to a prior left kneecap injury. For Ritchie to stay at center, he will have to seize the opportunity.
Regardless of position, expectations are higher for the 21-year-old entering his second season in the NHL. He spent what he called “easily the craziest offseason I’ve ever had in terms of training” working with a battery of coaches.
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