2014 NHL Draft Prospects Profiles: Nick Ritchie
by Matthew Bontorin / Nashville PredatorsNick Ritchie
Birthplace: Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
Date of Birth/Age: Dec. 5, 1995 (18)
Current Team: Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Position: Left Wing
Height: 6-3
Weight: 236 pounds
Ritchie was selected in the first round, second overall by the Peterborough Petes in the 2011 OHL Priority Draft and helped lead the team back to the playoffs in 2014 for the first time in four years. He led the team in points during the regular season (39g-35a-74pts) and playoffs (5g-5a-10pts).
Ritchie also won a pair of gold medals with Canada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and at the 2013 Under-18 World Junior Championship.
The power forward has gone on record saying he models his style of play after current NHL big-men Milan Lucic and Jamie Benn but also pays close attention to his older brother Brett, who was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and was a key contributor for the AHL’s Texas Stars this past season (22g-26a-48pts).
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Brett shares a similar build and skill set with younger brother Nick, which has allowed them to look to each other for advice.
On Feb. 7, 2014, Nick scored five goals and added an assist in what was the OHL’s largest single-game goal-scoring outburst in almost two years. The last player to reach this mark was none other than older brother Brett in November 2012 with the Niagara Ice Dogs.
Ritchie’s combination of size and scoring ability has a lot of NHL teams looking at him as an early first-round pick. His ability to be physical and take the puck to the net could be what allows him to have a successful NHL career.
Scout’s Comments:
“Nick is a powerful player and when he is skating and driving hard, he is extremely difficult to stop. Very good along the boards and can quickly win a puck battle and create a scoring chance. With his skating and size, he opens up lots of opportunities for his line mates. Players like him are not common.” –Craig Button, TSN Director of Scouting
Statistics
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | TP | PIM | | Playoffs | GP | G | A | TP | PIM |
2010-2011 | Toronto Marlboros Minor Mdgt AAA | GTMMHL | 68 | 50 | 45 | 95 | 119 | | | | | | | | |
| Georgetown Raiders | OJHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Team Ontario | CWG | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 38 | | | | | | | | |
| Toronto Marlboros Minor Mdgt AAA | OHL Cup | 7 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 10 | | | | | | | | |
2011-2012 | Peterborough Petes | OHL | 62 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 60 | | | | | | | | |
| Canada Ontario U17 | WHC-17 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
2012-2013 | Peterborough Petes | OHL | 41 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 50 | | | | | | | | |
| Canada U18 | Hlinka Memorial | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 31 | | | | | | | | |
| Canada U18 | WJC-18 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | | | | | | | | |
2013-2014 | Peterborough Petes | OHL | 61 | 39 | 35 | 74 | 136 | | | Playoffs | 11 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 24 |
Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com
Combine Results:
Nick finished in the Top 10 in the following categories at the 2014 NHL Scouting Combine at Toronto International Centre on Saturday, May 31, 2014:
1 BRETT LERNOUT 2037
2 CONNOR CHATHAM 1974
4 ALEXANDER PETERS 1754
6 AARON EKBLAD 1723
7 ALEX TUCH 1695
8 RYAN MANTHA 1692
9 JACOB MIDDLETON 1690
10 BLAKE SIEBENALER 1680
Leg Peak Power
Pos. Name Watts
1 CONNOR CHATHAM 7508
2 BRETT LERNOUT 6936
3 SHANE GERSICH 6884
4 ALEXANDER PETERS 6824
5 LUC SNUGGERUD 6740
6 BRENDAN PERLINI 6724
7 STEVEN SPINNER 6579
8 BLAKE SIEBENALER 6515
9 NICHOLAS RITCHIE 6470
10 MILES GENDRON 6470
Via NHL.com
Where Nick Ritchie is ranked:
International Scouting Services have Ritchie ranked as the 10th-best overall player.
http://www.isshockey.com/
NHL Central Scouting has Ritchie ranked as the seventh-best North American skater.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=712854
Craig Button of TSN has Ritchie ranked as the 16th-best overall player.
http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=49649
Future Considerations has Ritchie ranked as the seventh-best overall player.
http://futureconsiderations.ca/
Corey Pronman of ESPN has Ritchie ranked as the 18th-best overall player.
http://espn.go.com/
Video:
Nick Ritchie 2013/14 OHL Season Highlights: