Aatu Raty adopted an important change over the summer: He's ready to be the surprise

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Felip Gosselin
September 14, 2024 (8:21 PM)

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Before Tom Willander's draft, Jonathan Lekkerimäki's rapid rise, and Arturs Silovs' star-making performances, Aatu Räty was briefly seen as the Vancouver Canucks' top prospect.

It's easy to overlook now, but Räty was a vital part of the trade that sent former Canucks captain Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in January 2023. At that time, Räty was considered crucial to the team's future. However, the dynamic changed after Vancouver drafted Willander 11th overall. It saw Lekkerimäki surge in the Swedish Hockey League and watched Silovs become a hero for Latvia during their bronze-medal run at the 2023 World Championships. Silovs even started the Canucks' final ten playoff games. And Räty?

He quietly developed in the AHL last season, notching 18 goals and 52 points for Abbotsford. A former Finnish prodigy, Räty is only 21, despite feeling like a seasoned veteran. Dismissing Räty's potential now would be a mistake-he's still a significant part of Vancouver's future.

Changes to his habits to make him an NHLer?

And this summer, he believes he found a breakthrough.

«We made some huge strides in the skating department,» he said. «It's funny when you have that light-bulb moment. You think: How haven't I been doing this all along? But hey, better late than never.»

What changed?

«A lot of things,» he explained. «Body lean, mostly. My crossovers were terrible. I changed my blades, too. The specs in Finland are different; they have more glide because of the bigger ice, but I switched to sharper blades for tighter turns. That gave me more confidence to lean into those crossovers. If you watch the top players, they generate speed from their crossovers before they even get the puck. If I can pick up my speed quicker and blow past some guys, that'll be a game-changer.»

Despite being in his sixth pro season, Raty's participation in what's mostly a development tournament raised some eyebrows. But it's clear the Canucks wanted to give him a chance to build rhythm and momentum heading into training camp. The Abbotsford Canucks GM, Ryan Johnson, added his thoughts as well:

«It's not a full overhaul,» added Ryan Johnson. «But if we can get even a three-to-five-percent gain, think about where his game is now and where it could go. He's done the work-on and off the ice-to make these adjustments. After everything he's been through, he's all in on doing whatever it takes to play in the NHL. That kind of commitment is rare. He's one of those guys who just wants to be in the NHL. That's his focus.»

With this mindset and the North-American experience he's already added through two years, he could be a surprise as the Canucks head into camp.

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