On April 4, 2014, the Texas Stars honored the career of Mike Modano. Apparently dissatisfied with the team’s formal arrangements (that bit is a joke, the celebration was lovely), then-prospect Brett Ritchie decided to throw a little tribute of his own. The big kid rang up 4 goals and an assist in a 5-1 laugher against the then-Lake Eerie Monsters, and as someone lucky enough to see it live, he was probably better, even, than the stats indicate.
In the three years since, Ritchie has become a regular at the NHL level, but despite teasing 20 goals last season, the 6’4”, 217 lb forward hasn’t quite put it all together in Dallas.