Aatu Räty | C

[higgyfan]

22 hours ago, Hammertime said:

You seem really confident. He did go on a great run there towards the end. Do you think he will be a winger? Or are we still hoping for a 3c type guy. His skating didn't stand out as particularly awful like 1st camp Bo Horvat. Hoping for the best under the guidance of Malhotra, but I kind of feel like thats a short window. I don't see him being ready at 22. Looking for him to carry momentum into a big growth year! 

 

Yes I am, Hammer.  I've read a lot about this kid and I do believe his ceiling a 2nd C, but with our team,

he will probably be a regular 3C that can jump up as a 2nd C or LW.  He's got tons of talent, although

some complain about his skating, which has improved a lot since his draft year.  His weakness has been

his lack of confidence, which has also improved since coming to Abby.  I also think he will get a few looks

in Vancouver this season, but will be ready by the next one.

 

Here's an interesting article that explains his struggles and development in the past few years...

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/prospect-interest-despite-year-cant-fake-aatu-ratys-talent/

 

What I found interesting is that the year after his draft, he played on an adult league team

in Finland and was 2nd in scoring at only 18yrs.

 

And a little bit about his time in Abby...

 

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/building-blue-young-but-experienced-aatu-raty-prepares-for-biggest-season-of-his-young-career

[Rip The Mesh]

 

[Optimist Prime]

I think this guy is a real NHL deal, injury call up this year and a full timer next? 
I wouldn't want to mess with the chemistry of that 3rd line in Vancouver just yet, but Raty is a middle sixer all day long. That likely means 3 C or 2nd line winger, depending on the coach's needs. Perhaps he can even push for a 4th line role with the way his 200 foot game has rounded out. I am not homer enough to think he can be a Henrik Sedin out there, but he can be a reliable regular with a whole lot of upside. 

 

EDIT: Homer version (like my frosted side, hehe) Maybe he earns a wing spot with Debrusk and Petey out of camp pushing sprong down the depth chart to flesh out a killer fourth line. "when Raty was on the ice, Abbotsford scored 59% of the goals, which is 9.7% higher than when he was not on the ice."

[higgyfan]

Another recent article on Raty (Faber).  His faceoff percentage was at 55% last season and

there's a great video example how he switches to his right side when it's at his advantage;

he does it very quickly, which looks a bit confusing for the opposition player.

 

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/building-blue-young-but-experienced-aatu-raty-prepares-for-biggest-season-of-his-young-career

 

 

[Satchmo]

Aatu Raty's 'huge strides' reigniting hype around Canucks' former top prospect

 

After splitting his first season in North America between the NHL and the American Hockey League in 2022-23, he spent all of last year in the minors quietly building his game. Raty had 18 goals and 52 points for the Abbotsford Canucks.

A prodigy in Finland, where he turned pro at 16 and made his country’s world junior team as a 17-year-old, Raty is still only 21. It merely feels like he has been around a long time and that his best-before date may already be approaching.  Forgetting about Aatu Raty would be foolish.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/aatu-ratys-huge-strides-reigniting-hype-around-canucks-former-top-prospect/

 

[Rip The Mesh]