Observations:

April 2017 – Ritchie suffered an injury that caused him to miss the final game of the season. He didn’t produce a lot of points for the Stars, but he was rather worthwhile for shots-on-goal and hits. Ritchie ended with 167 shots and 153 hits, which could make him note-worthy for some leagues. He’ll never be an elegant skater that makes beautiful passes, but he does use his physicality well, and loves shooting the puck. –Matt Kowalski

November 2016 – Ritchie continues to play as winger for the Stars. Currently slotted next to Radek Faksa,and Antoine Roussel, so he isn’t teamed up with offensive talent. They seem to be using him in a checking role, and has little fantasy value while on the third line. Ritchie possesses a good shot, so if he is teamed up with a playmaker he may have some value. However, he may not be a great fit for the Stars unless he uses more speed, which is something Valeri Nichushkin battled with. –Matt Kowalski

September 2016 – With all of the shuffling of forwards within the last month, Brett Ritchie has the opportunity to play big minutes to begin the season. Valeri Nichuskin left the team to play in Russia, Tyler Seguin was injured just before World Cup tournament and his return is unknown, and Cody Eakin is out for possibly two months. Ritchie had a good chance to make the team, but with these injuries, his minutes and role on the team are sure to increase. Ritchie is starting to emerge as a possible fantasy sleeper for the Stars. Matt Kowalski

June 2016 – The departures of Vern Fiddler and Colton Sceviour created some openings for the Stars, unfortunately it doesn't look like it freed a spot for Ritchie. The Stars re-signed Patrick Eaves, which will likely give Eaves the first opportunity to hold down the right-wing spot on the fourth line. Ritchie brings size and skill, so if he has a good camp, or somebody is injured, he could very easily find a full-time role. If he doesn't earn a spot out of camp, Ritchie just may be sent back down to AHL to provide consistent reps. The Stars clearly want to get bigger at forward, so they will be eager to give him a chance. Matt Kowalski

March 2016 – Ritchie got into his first game of 2015-16 NHL action March 4th against New Jersey. Skating on a line with Benn and Seguin, Ritchie went pointless, firing three shots on net, throwing a games high eight hits and chucking knuckles with Adam Larsson. His AHL numbers to date have been excellent, registering 14 goals and 14 assists in 35 games. Ritchie is right on the cusp of securing a full time spot in big D. Brad Phillips

December 2015 – After missing the first two months of the season with a wrist injury, Ritchie hasn't missed a beat scoring three goals (a hat trick) and adding one helper in his first three games back. The timing of Ritchie's return couldn't have been better as leading score Devin Shore is going to be out for the next four to six weeks. Look for Ritchie to lead the offensive charge for Texas for the forseeable future with a likely call to Dallas coming later in the season. Brad Phillips

September 2015 – Ritchie spent the 2014-15 season split evenly between Big D and Cedar Park. With Texas Ritchie racked up 14 goals and 7 assist in 33 regular season games, marginally increasing his goals/games ratio from the previous year but seeing a healthy drop in the assist category.  He added and one goal and one assist in three playoff games. Ritchie got his first taste of NHL action this year playing 31 games with the big club scoring six goals and adding three assists. Pretty respectable numbers considering he played with Shawn Horcoff and Curtis MacKenzie 27% of the time. Although more exciting for poolies is that Ritchie's second most frequent line mates were Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin at 16%. For all you "fancy stat" heads out there, of all NHL forwards that played at least 30 games in the 2014-15 season, Ritchie ranked 39th in On-Ice Corsi. All signs pointed to him securing a roster spot full time with  Dallas for the upcoming season. But while Ritchie was training to get ready for camp, he suffered a wrist injury and underwent surgery to repair a ligament. The timing couldn't have been worse for Ritchie as he is entering the final year of his entry level deal and was undoubtedly looking for a big year to cash in on his next contract. The timeline on his recovery is three to four month which would keep him out until sometime in either December or January depending on how quickly he recovers. Even assuming the best case scenario and Ritchie is healed by December, he'll be three months behind everyone else in terms of conditioning and being up to the tempo of NHL hockey so you have to think he'll need a healthy stint in the AHL to get his game where it needs to be. I wouldn't bet on seeing RItchie in Dallas until mid-January. Brad Phillips

January 2015 – The final few days of 2014 were big ones for Ritchie. He opened it with 5 goals(including a hat trick) in three games and earning AHL Player of the Week honors. He  finished the year on a real high note garnering a last second call up on New Years Eve. Once in Big D, Ritchie promptly scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game, and the cherry on that was it happened on his first shot in the NHL. He even set the play in motion with a crunching hit along the boards deep in the offensive zone that prevented the puck being cleared before skating into the low slot to take the pass and snap it home. He showed every facet of his game and may have earned a few more games in Dallas this season.

September 2014 – Dallas has assigned Ritchie to the Texas Stars to open the 2014-15 season. After being limited for about a week during the preseason following the broken finger, Ritchie has himself positioned well to be at the head of the list for a call up should an injury befall one of Dallas' wingers. With Ales Hemsky now wearing Victory Green you know it's only a matter of when, not if, that opportunity arises. Rex Doty  

September 2014 – Ritchie's chances of making the NHL roster to start the season suffered a setback over the weekend at the Traverse City Tourney. Ritchie was slashed on the hand and broke his pinkie finger. It was announced that Ritchie will miss roughly two weeks which will include training camp this weekend and the first week of pre-season. It doesn't mean he will automatically start the season back in the AHL, but now the task of breaking camp with the NHL Stars just became a lot tougher. Rex Doty

September 2014 – Ritchie had a great game for the Stars squad in the Traverse City Prospects Tournement on opening night. Ritchie helped lead a rally from down 3-1 in the third period as the Stars beat the Rangers 4-3. He picked up two goals, one in the third and the game-winner in OT, plus adding an assist. Ritchie may be a dark horse candidate to land in Big D to start the season, but with the wealth of talent top to bottom at forward the chances are pretty slim barring a lights out camp and pre-season. In all likelihood Ritchie will spend a good chunk of 2014-15 in the AHL, where he can build on last seasons strong regular season, and even better playoff run, with the 2013-14 Calder Cup Champion, Texas Stars. Rex Doty

November 2013 – Ritchie has skated in all 14 games for the Texas Stars (AHL) this season. After recording just one point in the first five contests, he now ranks tied for second on the team in assists (8) and fourth in total points (11). He's scored at least one point in seven out of his last nine games this season and currently rides a three game point streak dating back to Nov. 2. Clayton Bailey

April 2013 – After wrapping up a very productive season with the Ice Dogs where he had 76 points in 53 games and a stellar plus-35, Ritchie has joined the Texas Stars. In five regular season games he had four points. He also notched the game winning goal in overtime of the Stars first round Calder Cup playoff game against the Milwaukee Admirals. Rex Doty

March 2013 – Brett Ritchie of the Ice Dogs was named OHL Player of the Week (ending March 3, 2013) for the second time this season after posting five goals and eight points in three weekly games. Ritchie continues to show tremendous chemistry with Ryan Strome this season as the duo teamed up for 15 points in the three weekly games. Brendan Ross

February 2013 – He only lasted three days in Dallas’ camp before they felt it was best he continued in Niagara of the OHL. Ritchie and Strome combine for the OHL’s most dominating and lethal duo this season with 60 goals between them in 41 games. Jason Banks

December 2012 – Ritchie was named to the final squad that will represent Canada at the WJC. He is expected to play on the second line. Rich Dillon

December 2012 – Brett Ritchie was one of 21 forwards invited to take part in Canada's National Junior Selection camp for the 2013 World Junior Championships in Ufa, Russia. Ritchie enters camp as one of the Canadian Hockey League's hottest snipers over the past few weeks. Brendan Ross

October 2012 – Stars forward prospect Brett Ritchie is off to a strong start in his fourth OHL campaign as he clips along at a point-per-game pace through his first 16 games. The big winger has formed good chemisty with Islanders' prospect Ryan Strome and is showin more signs of consistency as his game matures. He remains a wild card prospect for fantasy leagues but could be worth a flyer in deeper keeper leagues. Brendan Ross

October 2012 – Brett Ritchie was named to the 2012 Subway Super Series Team OHL Roster slated to compete in a six-game series versus the Russian National Junior Team in November. Brendan Ross

July 2012 – Signed his three year entry level contract. He will be returning to junior this season, where he needs to dominate games with his size, and be ready to turn pro next season. His pro transition will likely be smooth as he has the body of a man, but his offensive game will take a few seasons. Jason Banks

January 2012 – Blessed with great size, Brett Ritchie excels in the puck protection game when using his size along the boards.  Unfortunately, Ritchie has suffered several injuries in his young career and has struggled to consistently use his size game in and game out.  As a power forward, Brett Ritchie has time to develop into a solid top six player for the Dallas Stars and if he learns to engage himself physically on a more consistent basis then he has the tools (good speed, great shot and a mean streak) to become a valuable roto-player especially since he has shown a willingness to drop the mitts. Brendan Ross

Fantasy Outlook: B+

Ritchie has shown that he can keep up with NHL hockey and should be close to an NHL scoring-line spot.

Footage:

Brett Ritchie's first NHL tally

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