PLYMOUTH, Mich. — Calum Ritchie has an NHL contract and hopes to be on the roster for the Colorado Avalanche this season.

The 19-year-old forward, selected 27th overall by Colorado in the 2023 NHL Draft, signed a three-year, entry-level contract on July 8.

“I definitely feel like I’ve learned a lot this season, improved my game a lot, and I’m going to go to (training) camp and try to do the best I can,” Ritchie said Friday before Canada’s 8-6 win over Finland. “Obviously my goal is to get in the NHL.”

That chance comes now that he’s fully healthy. He played the 2022-23 season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, and surgery to repair the injury sidelined him for the first two months of last season. But he recovered well enough to lead Oshawa in the Ontario Hockey League with 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) in 50 regular-season games and finished second among all players in the OHL playoffs with 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 21 games to help Oshawa reach the OHL finals.

“I think all aspects of my game have really improved,” he said. “I learned a lot from my coaches this year in Oshawa and then in our big playoff series there. So it was a great experience and I learned a lot about every aspect of my game.”

For Ritchie (1.88m tall, 85kg), having a healthy breakout season where he can build his strength has been crucial.

“I’ve already gained 20 pounds since the season ended,” he said. “I feel good and stronger. So it’s exciting.”

Ritchie could be the ultimate answer to the second-line center question facing the Avalanche after Nazem Kadri left after Colorado won the Stanley Cup in 2022.

“(The Avalanche) expect a lot from me and I’m really happy that they finally see a future in me,” Ritchie said. “I’m just trying to do the best I can and see how I perform in (training) camp and give myself a chance.”

Three things we learned on Friday:

Slukynsky excited for college and special roommate

Hampton Slukynsky will move into a new room with his former roommate at Western Michigan University.

The Los Angeles Kings goaltender, selected in the fourth round (No. 118) of the 2023 NHL Draft, will share a dorm room with his older brother, Grant Slukynsky, as they will start together at Western Michigan.

“It’s a huge thing,” Hampton said of his brother being there. “We’re both new there, so to experience everything, to get to know everyone, to have someone you know come in right away and just go eat or just hang out, that’s huge.”

Hampton, who turned 19 last month, had committed to Northern Michigan, where Grant played last season. But with head coach Grant Potulny leaving to become head coach of the Hartford team of the American Hockey League and his assistants leaving as well, the brothers decided to change course.

“All four coaches left, so that opened the door for us to go somewhere else,” Hampton said. “We took advantage of that and decided on Western. We’d heard great things about everything there, everyone. So when we looked at everything and saw how everything worked there, it was a pretty easy decision.”

Slukynsky was named the United States Hockey League’s all-time goaltender last season after going 28-3-0 with a 1.86 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and five shutouts in 33 games with Fargo. After participating in last year’s World Junior Summer Exhibition, he is focused on making the United States team for the 2025 WJC.

“I think one of the things that gives Hampton a chance is he’s driven, he’s coachable, he’s athletic and he’s quick,” said U.S. goaltending coach David Lassonde. “I just think he’s got a great mentality about it. And I don’t think it’s going to make a difference for us, for us, for Northern Michigan, for Western Michigan. We just want them to get playing time in the first half of the season so we can see where their game is in terms of what we’re doing.”

Tuhkala makes the most of his national team chance

Arttu Tuhkala, who had never played for the Finnish National Team until the Five Nations Tournament held in February, continued his impressive performance at the World Youth Summer Fair.

“Arrtu is a late bloomer,” Finland coach Lauri Mikkola said on Thursday. “February was his first time with the national team, he has never played for the U-18, U-17 or U-16. He is a bit of a late bloomer but a very talented guy.”

Tuhkala (172), who is 1.93 meters tall and will turn 19 on August 7, had 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 45 games with Lulea’s team in the Swedish junior league last season but was cut in the 2024 NHL Draft.

He’s not only there to earn a spot in the WJC for Finland, but also to show NHL scouts what they’ve been missing.

“I think that’s the key to the game, sometimes you have to be angry,” Tuhkala said. “Just make sure you’re the best.”

He will get more exposure in Sweden this season. He is expected to be loaned by Lulea to Bjorkloven in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second professional league, and get more ice time against older opponents.

“It’s about getting bigger and stronger and also improving my defensive abilities,” he said.

Berglund is no stranger to physical play

Swedish forward Jack Berglund (Philadelphia Flyers) had a bandage over the bridge of his nose after his nose was cut late in the second period of Friday’s 7-5 win over the United States, but he did not appear concerned about the injury.

“I don’t know if it’s the rod or the visor,” he said. “It’s only three stitches, so I’m good.”

Injury did not keep Berglund from his usual spot in front of the net in the offensive zone, where he scored in the first period and provided a screen that allowed Theo Lindstein (St. Louis Blues) to score in the second period.

“When you have that size (6’3, 31 inches), why not use it?” Berglund said. “I really try to be all over the ice, but especially on the power play, when I have that role, I want to be in front of the net and help my teammates score. I just try to do my job, get pucks back and play physical.”

He certainly impressed Sweden coach Magnus Havelid on Friday, who used Berglund in the midfield alongside Otto Stenberg (St. Louis Blues) and Lucas Pettersson (Anaheim Ducks) on the top line.

“He has good height but he uses it wisely,” Havelid said. “He plays well with the puck, he makes good decisions. He’s not a very fast guy but… he makes good decisions. He’s a very important player.”