Minnesota Wild select Ryder Ritchie No. 45 overall in 2024 NHL Draft

On Saturday at The Sphere in Las Vegas, the Minnesota Wild took Ryder Ritchie in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft, No. 45 overall.

Ritchie spent the 2023-24 campaign with the Prince Albert Raiders in the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he compiled 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points in 47 games. The 17-year-old was named the WHL Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 notching 55 points in 61 games, playing on a Raiders squad that was a bottom feeder all season.

When I asked a WHL scout to describe Ritchie in a few words he said, “Flashy, he is a very creative forward.”

The Calgary, Alberta product started the year off strong with the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he tallied three goals and six assists for nine points. Ritchie represented Canada again, this time just this past spring at the IIHF U18 Men’s Worlds and four goals and eight points in seven games en route to a championship.

 Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Steven Ellis rated Ritchie No. 33 overall.

“Ritchie loves the puck on his stick, so it only makes sense that he has a great shot release,” Ellis said. “He can be flashy, but we saw him at the U-18s play a more reserved role while bringing some solid energy and playing a bit more physical than we’re used to. An injury kept him out of play for about two months, really dampening what was just a fine first half of the year. Prince Albert’s best player in the playoffs ended the year strong after putting up some great numbers at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. The raw talent is there, but he just has to put it together on a nightly basis if he’s going to be effective in the NHL.

Ritchie joins Zeev Buium as the Wild’s 2024 picks so far. The Wild are slated to pick next with the No. 110 pick.