Islanders Coach DeBoer Stresses Development After Benching Ritchie

New York Islanders coach Pete DeBoer has emphasized a developmental approach for 21-year-old center Calum Ritchie, despite benching him late in a recent game. DeBoer opted to keep Ritchie on the second line for Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs, a day after reviewing video with him to address puck management issues.

"It's all part of the process," DeBoer said. "I had Wyatt Johnston in Dallas. I had Thomas Harley. They all went through this. They all had great games and they had games where they took a step back. You had to sit and watch for a little bit. This is all part of that development."

Ritchie, who had been scoreless in four consecutive games entering Saturday's matchup, appeared to accept the coach's message constructively. "I think I've been forcing some plays offensively a little bit," Ritchie stated pregame. "I'm just trying to generate offense and I'm forcing some things. Just trying to hold onto pucks. Making smarter plays is a big thing and obviously, I think just battling harder. Winning more puck battles. I think those are the two biggest things probably."

DeBoer has frequently highlighted the need for better decision-making with the puck early in the season, a challenge faced by multiple players on the team. Given the Islanders' speed limitations on defense when Matthew Schaefer is off the ice and their overall offensive struggles, minimizing turnovers that lead to opposition chances is critical.

Ritchie's giveaways and a penalty in Thursday night's game against the Senators, which the Islanders lost 2-1 in a shootout, led to him being benched for the final 11:30 of regulation and the entirety of overtime. "I think a bit of it is not executing what I’m seeing," Ritchie explained. "I’m seeing something and just trying to make a play and they close it off quickly. It’s kinda like, a more high-risk play, you’re not sure it’s gonna happen. It’s just getting back to the basics, simplifying my game a little bit. Just trying to play the right way."

DeBoer cautioned against stifling Ritchie's offensive instincts while also stressing the importance of responsible puck handling. He noted that learning the balance between creating offense and avoiding recklessness with the puck is a common challenge for young players. "He's a young guy that's finding that line between creating offense, how to create offense in this league against some big, heavy teams and big bodies, but also do it without being reckless with the puck," DeBoer said. "But also do it without being reckless with the puck. That's something every young player goes through. It's OK to sit and watch for a few shifts here and there."

Ritchie expressed that his confidence remains intact, recognizing that such experiences are part of a player's progression. He referenced similar situations with teammates like Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair in past seasons. "You still gotta play hockey," he said. "You gotta play free. If you're not playing free, you're not gonna play very good. For me, everyone kinda goes through that. Stars in this league get sat sometimes. Just gotta bounce back, play better, play the right way."