Canucks prospect Aatu Räty continuing his strong push towards opening night roster spot

"There's a number of factors at play here. One is what he's done and I think he has done an awful lot to make it right down to the final cuts, to make it difficult for the coaching staff here. But I think you have to remember guys, if the Canucks are true to their word about not wanting to go into LTIR, we may all have to be prepared for them to start the season with 21 guys on their roster. Like I do think there are some cap gymnastics at play here where they start with two home games, they could start the season well under the roster limit and that's going to impact those guys that are right there on the bubble. So, let's see where things go on that front." Paterson said.

"The other is what's happening around him. I will say this that it has been remarkably quiet around Pius Suter here through camp and his three preseason outings. Now, it's never loud around Pius Suter, I get that, but I think I went to Canucks camp figuring he was going to start the season as the 3C. He has had a really quiet preseason. He scored an empty netter in the first game against Seattle. He has been absolutely crushed in the face off circle and if you're going to be a center and a natural center, that's part of the job description and it has not gone well for Pius Suter to this point."

Paterson later went on to add, "I'm just not convinced Teddy Blueger long-term is the answer as a third line center. I know he had a nice run there with Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland. Joshua's not here right now, so that third line is going to take on a different look and so saying all of that, I think there are question marks around the incumbents and maybe the door for Aatu Rätyf."