Former tenth overall pick to become an unrestricted free agent

After a stint overseas that saw him make stops in both Finland and Germany, 2014 tenth overall pick Nick Ritchie is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

According to HockeyWorldwide, the Iserlohn Roosters of the German DEL have informed Nick Ritchie that they won't be brining him back next season, making him a UFA.


Ritchie began the season looking to earn an NHL contract after being invited by the St. Louis Blues to their training camp on a PTO. Ultimately about half-way through camp, the Blues would release him and he'd become a free agent once again.


Two months after being released by the Blues, Ritchie would find a new home - Karpat - who play in Finland's top division, Liiga. His stint with Karpat didn't go as the team would have hoped and ten games into his time in Finland, he received an eight-game suspension for repeatedly punching a defenseless opponent. When Ritchie was eligible to return to Karpat's lineup, the team told him to seek other opportunities and he'd ultimately find his way to Germany for an eight-game stint with Iserlohn.

In ten games for Karpat, Ritchie had five points (one goal, four assists), 70 penalty minutes and was a minus-seven. Meanwhile, in eight games for Iserlohn, the 28-year-old had two points (one goal, one assist), eight penalty minutes and was a minus-four.

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