The Wild began Saturday by selecting right-wing Ryder Ritchie in the second round (45th overall). Ritchie, 17 (8/3/06), played in 47 games for the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League (WHL) during the 2023-24 season, recording 44 points (19-25=44), second-most among team skaters, and 24 PIM. He was named WHL Rookie of the Year for the 2022-23 season where he posted 55 points (20-35=55), ranking third among WHL rookies in assists and fourth in points. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound native of Calgary, Alberta, represented Canada at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 World Championship, where he posted eight points (4-4=8), two PIM and a plus-three rating in seven games to help Canada win the gold medal. He also took home the gold medal with Canada in the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, finishing the tournament with nine points (3-6=9), his point and assist totals ranked second in the tournament. The right-shot forward scored four goals in the 2022 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge with Team Canada White. His father, Byron, skated in 324 games over nine NHL seasons (1998-08) with Carolina, Florida, Calgary and Vancouver.