Ritchie appreciated the vote of confidence from the Islanders’ coaching staff to put him alongside the team’s leading goal scorer in Horvat.
“It feels great, but obviously, I have to perform,” Ritchie said.
Ritchie said Horvat is an easy player to play with in their time together on the power play, or when the Islanders have been between line changes. Horvat will shoulder more responsibilities as the center on their line, so Ritchie understands his role is to support Horvat on the wing.
“I want to be good on the walls, down low, protect pucks, hang on to pucks and make those skilled plays,” Ritchie said. “He plays with a lot of pace, and I just have to play with pace and keep up with him and kind of read off him and learn from him.”
Horvat said Ritchie’s hockey IQ is an asset he can bring to his line and praised his development as a rookie.
“He just continues to keep getting better and better,” Horvat said of Ritchie. “His playmaking abilities, his vision, the way he sees the ice is what stands out to me.”
