Former Top-10 Pick Ruthlessly Attacks Opponent: Long-Term Suspension Likely

Whatever set him off, it must have been something serious, because he was clearly really upset. A former top-10 NHL pick will likely be suspended long-term after an attack on an opponent.

Nick Ritchie, who currently plays for Karpat of the Finnish Elite League, was booted from a game yesterday after pinning an opponent to the ice and repeatedly punching him in the head. He received 5 and a game for his actions, and Liiga's disciplinary committee is now looking into the incident.

There is no word at the moment on what set Ritchie off. It won't matter a whole lot in the eyes of the disciplinary committee as I can't imagine much would warrant these actions.

Ritchie was drafted 10th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2014. Besides the Ducks, he also played for Boston, Toronto, Arizona and Calgary before leaving the league for Europe this year.

Ritchie, who is now 28, had his best seasons with the Ducks, when he put up 31 points in 2018-19. He never lived up to the hype of being a top-10 pick, hence why he's playing in Finland right now. Fans are reacting to his actions with disbelief.

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