STRONG PROSPECT AT CAMP, NOT NYI PROPERTY
The intriguing case of Notre Dame’s Calle Ridderwall
1:15 pm - One of the best players at Islanders Prospect Minicamp this week is a player who may never get the chance to become an Islander. That’s because he’s not Islanders property.
Forward Calle Ridderwall – yes, he’s first cousins with NYI goalie prospect Stefan – is on Long Island this week because the Islanders were the only NHL team to invite him to a minicamp. Not so coincidentally, the Islanders were to first team to send word through his “family advisor” (NCAA restrictions, folks) with any kind of interest in him.
But the fact is, no NHL team ever drafted him. Now he’s 20, a borderline college star entering his junior year at Notre Dame. The Islanders have shown him plenty of love – although as an NCAA player he’s paying his way this week – but there’s no guarantee that when he’s done with the Fighting Irish, he will commit to the Orange & Blue.
But…
“The New York Islanders were the first team to ever contact me and tell me I’m a good hockey player,” Ridderwall said after 60 minutes of on-ice drills today at Iceworks. “They were the first team to invite me to a minicamp. I will always appreciate that and have to keep that under consideration. Free agency is crazy. When it happens for me, if there are a lot of teams interested, I will definitely remember the Islanders because they have been first-class.”
Teams will be interested. In fact, you can make the case that, like Matt Gilroy, not being drafted will turn out to be good for him. Ridderwall is now 6-0, 185 pounds and has a resume of coming up big at Notre Dame, including an overtime goal against top-ranked Michigan in the 2008 Frozen Four.
After scoring threee regular season goals as a freshman, he scored two against the Wolverines when it counted most. As a sophomore last season, Ridderwall was 17-15-32 in 40 games. Not bad for the first Swedish hockey recruit in Notre Dame history.
Now he’s a self-made North American player. “I’ve always been fascinated by the U.S.,” he said today with a smile. At 16, he came over to play for the Chicago Chill in a league he described as a “notch below” the USHL. The following year he continued his development with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL and got the call from Notre Dame head coach (and former Islanders assistant coach) Jeff Jackson.
A finance major, Ridderwall says “I’ve always envisioned playing all four years and graduating from Notre Dame.” But that can change at any moment and he knows it.
All those years as a kid shooting against his cousin and best friend Stefan may pay off. Whether he lands with the Islanders or somewhere else is a mystery. He’s proven this week that he’s a legitimate NHL prospect.
Comments. More later today.
25 Responses to STRONG PROSPECT AT CAMP, NOT NYI PROPERTY
The intriguing case of Notre Dame’s Calle Ridderwall
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Bedell says:
when he decides to turn pro I hope we approach him with an offer, he sounds like a class act.
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Jon Mac says:
Interesting read. Hopefully the kid shows the Islanders some loyalty and signs with us if we make him a fair offer. Having his cousin in the system doesn’t hurt.
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RAmen says:
Thanks for the article CB – One of the first questions I had when I heard the roster for this week was “Who is this Calle guy”?
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derekkingforpres says:
CB…….is he still eligible for the draft? Or can he sign with an organization at any time? Thanks.
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Mark P says:
What are the guidlines for 20 year FA?
Gilroy waited until 25 (no restrictions)and got silly money….but after all the hype and waiting, Toronto did not seem have to overspend on “The Monster”. It does not seem like Stefan is in the Isles plans any time soon, so Isles leverage is probably limited to at least “taking our call” after the end of the ND season for Calle. -
peter debenedetto says:
If he doesn’t sign here in the future make sure he gives us back all that Islander Gear in the pic.
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It’s too bad that, within a rebuild, the Isles do not have one top prospect in the top 50 according to hfboards.
Im sure their next ranking will have JT, and they did have KO a while back ranked 7. I’d like to see a handfull at once though. That’d be nice.
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Dan says:
according to the draft primer…
“Players who turn 18 by September 15 and are not older than 20 by December 31 are eligible for selection. In addition, non-North American players over the age of 20 are eligible.
A North American player who is not drafted by the age of 20 is an unrestricted free agent. All non-North Americans must be drafted before being signed, regardless of age. ”
my question for CB would be..is he considered a north american player because he has been here for so long or is he a non-NA player because he is from sweden?
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Spartiarti - RVC says:
only reason why isles did not rank high on hockeyfutures last year was b/c Bailey, Okposo, Comeau, Nielsen were playing for big club.
Tavares wont be on list either b/c he will be playing for big club too this year.
As far is this Kid Calle, he may remember how great isles were to him but at the end of the day he going to listen to what his agent will tell him. if money offered is same as isles offer, of course he remember the isles, But if he get big offer elsewhere, trust me he will be playing for us.
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the bomber says:
no shot playing at our camp does anything for us. i believe hes grateful for the isles giving him a break, but if we want him to play here will will have to overpay him cause thats the only way we ever get a free agent.
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fwb says:
Could things be going this well? Did some player say how ‘professional’ things have been and how well they have been treated? Is this our Islanders? Is the black cloud finally going off shore? One can only hope.
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G. HOWITT says:
If he is not one of us, what is he doing here..take off the orange/ blue….PAL
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Jethro from Finland says:
These undrafted (Swedish) players seem to be really wanted these days and I’m sure Calle’s “family advisor” know’s how to play that game and gets a brunnstrom-like hype before signing. After that it’s a race between Burke and someone else to get him. Hopefully Islanders have a special place in his heart, but for a finance major it might not be about “the heart” at that point.
I’m surprised there doesn’t seem to be that much talk about Jussi Makkonen (6’4 220lbs 1985 born)Center who was the best goal scorer in the Finnish Elite League last season (57gp 27+32=59pts). He hasn’t been drafted and has a NHL-ready frame. Big, offensive, cheap, low risk player at least for now before any hype.
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Ryan says:
Dan (9): A North American player is defined as anyone who has played in any league in North America. So, Ridderwall is officially a North American player, regardless of where he was born.
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318-J-1 says:
cb, you know i never do this but i have to break your rules. please dont delete this post.
can someone tell me why i cant have a photo of the 2009 nhl draft logo autographed by the 7 players we drafted! I spent my money for this picture and got an orange sharpie specificly to have it autographed by our 2009 draft picks, then drove for an hour to give it to my rep this morning, he called me back a few minutes ago and told me that upper management said i could not have this picture autographed becuse i may sell it! what!? sell it? no! i want it for me! i have had my own season ticket for years now, and i always sell other tickets for them, I even bought the loyalty plan for last year and next year only to get gipped out of another$200 this season, but i cant get the one thing i have ever asked for? i think that someone else saw my idea and figured they could do the same and sell it so they stole my idea. this is compleate b.s. these kids havnt even played an nhl game yet and i cant have there autographs? not to mention that i wasnt alowd in the minicamp becuse i already spent my money, the only way for a fan to get in was either if you were thinking of buying tickets or if you got to iceworks before 9am on sunday to get a braclet! well lookout bandwagon fans! im in 318-J-1 and im going to treat you the same way i was treated in your favor! ITS RIOT TIME!!!
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isles99 says:
ridderwall will sign with whomever gives him the most money. he’s a finanace major to boot. i feel for the guy above. the islanders are giving new season ticket holder way more benefits than those who have been loyal through the tough times…yet another reason why the islanders are a second class organization
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joedayisback says:
318 – I am totally with you. I have been a season ticket holder for years and have already committed to two more seasons. Yet, I was told I cannot go to the prospect camp. However, people who DID NOT renew were allowed to go. What do you expect from this organization that is run like a circus?
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Tom B says:
yeah, we will never see him again after this week is over.
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drive45 says:
Who cares about this kid, he is a Notre Dame loser. Don’t ever waste time on these losers that ruin the frozen four for my boys from Michigan.
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goislesgo105 says:
If Calle is not Islander property, why is he even here??? He’s taking a spot that could be used for a player they have the rights to. It seems to me if the Isles invited him to their camp, they should be the one’s allowed to sign him. Good deal for him, lousy deal for the Isles.
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Willis says:
I don’t understand what the problem would be if anyone DID sell an autographed picture of “7 players drafted by a professional hockey team”.
Someone wanna explain that to me? -
rb says:
Another kid who has described the Islanders as “first-class.”
Garth and his staff should be commended for the way they’re running the hockey ops end. Teams hit or miss on prospects, and you can really only do your best in that department. But a team can ALWAYS control how they run their operation and treat people, and it seems we’re really getting it right, and that will pay off down the road.
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beatlebailey says:
318 J just scribble on the picture yourself and tell everyone it is authentic..or send it to me and I will have it autographed..:-)
Good luck Calle.