It was only a matter of time before the Canucks' star netminder Thatcher Demko and the power forward Dakota Joshua ended up on the injured reserve. The latest updates on their injuries confirmed that they weren't nearing a return and that the Canucks would kick things off with their number 35 and 81 on the sidelines.
With Demko and Joshua sent on the injured reserve, Allvin still had to cut his roster down. The Canucks' GM subsequently announced that after clearing waivers, the team's newest acquisition Erik Brannstrom had been assigned to the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks, recently claimed by the team, Jiri Patera joins him along with the training camp surprise Arshdeep Bains.
Bains did well, but apparently not good enough to force the staff's hand. Aatu Raty on the other end, figured it out a way to remain with the big club. Centering a line made of himself, Nils Hoglander and Conor Garland, he showed that he belonged at the NHL level. Whether or not he'll start the season there is a whole other thing, but it's fair to think that the Canucks did not keep the youngster around just to be the team's 13th forward.
Acquired in the Bo Horvat trade, Raty has grown since joining the organisation and the investment is starting to pay off. The centerman collected 52 points with the Abbotsford Canucks last year and at only 21-years-old, he's already cracking one of the NHL's deepest forwards group. It'll be extremely interesting to see how this pans out for the team, but if he does well, he could force an establish veteran out of Vancouver once Dakota Joshua finds his way back to the line-up.
POLL | ||
Do you think it was the right call to keep Aatu Raty in the NHL? | ||
Yes | 152 | 91 % |
No | 15 | 9 % |
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