The Dallas Stars suffered a blow on Tuesday, as GM Jim Nill announced right wing Brett Ritchie would miss the next 3-4 months recovering from wrist surgery.
Ritchie, 22, made his NHL debut last season and fared well, scoring six goals and nine points in 31 games. A former scoring sensation with OHL Niagara — 57 goals, 106 points over his final 83 games in junior — Ritchie is a tantalizing prospect; he’s big (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) and was a solid offensive presence with AHL Texas over the last two seasons, scoring 36 times.
Ritchie was projected to battle for a roster spot during the preseason and training camp.
Dallas’ second-round pick (44th overall) at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Ritchie is the older brother of Anaheim prospect Nick Ritchie, who the Ducks took 10th overall in 2014.