"The New York Islanders announced Friday that Calum Ritchie will miss one to two weeks with a lower-body injury sustained in Thursday's preseason matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 20-year-old center exited the game early and did not return. The injury makes what was being categorized as a hard decision, one that Patrick Roy doesn't have to make regarding the opening night lineup."
"Prior to his injury, Ritchie had been talking about the progress he's made at camp, given the opportunity to skate alongide veteran Islanders forwards. "It's been great, obviously," Ritchie said. "You get a chance to play with guys like Cizikas and Palmieri in games, and every shift you're learning. You're coming back to the bench talking about what just happened, and you're picking up things every day from those guys.""
"The timing is unfortunate for the 2023 first-round pick, who was battling for one of the final roster spots down the middle. With Jean-Gabriel Pageau retained and Mathew Barzal shifting back to center, Ritchie was already facing a steep climb to crack the lineup. While the injury could tilt the decision toward starting the year in Bridgeport, Ritchie has clearly left an impression on the coaching staff. Should the Islanders need reinforcements once healthy, he'll likely be among the first call-ups."
Calum Ritchie will miss one to two weeks with a lower-body injury suffered in Thursday's preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 20-year-old center exited early and did not return, pausing his strong camp momentum after recording a goal and an assist in his preseason debut. Ritchie played seven NHL games last season with Colorado before joining the Islanders and had been trusted with late defensive shifts. He praised playing with veteran forwards like Cizikas and Palmieri. The injury complicates a battle for a final center roster spot and could push him to start in Bridgeport, though he remains a likely early call-up when healthy.
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