Islanders’ Calum Ritchie out day-to-day with lower-body injury

An unfortunate injury so close to the regular season.

On Thursday night, New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy revealed that Calum Ritchie is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

It came after the Islanders faced off with the Philadelphia Flyers in the Isles’ final game of the preseason. Questions arose about Ritchie’s health after he was noticeably absent from the team’s bench at some point during the game. Ritchie played just 9:44 across 12 shifts in the game, the lowest on-ice total of any Islander in the game. New York pulled out a 4-3 victory, ending its preseason schedule with a 2-2-2 record.

Roy didn’t reveal when or where Ritchie got hurt. He did state he will be examined further on Friday.

Ritchie had been a busy bee during training camp, really trying to work his way onto the roster for opening night. Thursday’s contest was the 20-year-old’s fourth appearance this preseason. He scored a goal and an assist in a 6-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Sept. 23, but hadn’t posted a point since.

Ritchie came to Long Island, along with Oliver Kylington, right before last season’s trade deadline as part of the deal that sent Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche. The Oakville, Ont. native played seven games for the Avs before being sent back to the Ontario Hockey League, spending the rest of the 2024-25 campaign. He scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 14, coincidentally against the Islanders. Since he didn’t play 10 games, Ritchie has yet to burn a season of his three-year, entry-level contract.

In 47 games with the Oshawa Generals, Ritchie potted 15 goals and 55 assists for 70 points, with another 25 points in 21 playoff games.

The Islanders will kick off the 2025-26 regular season next Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Isles will be at UBS Arena for the first time that Saturday, playing host to the Washington Capitals.