The Athletic names Vancouver's most interesting prospect for the 2024-25 season

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Cooper Godin
September 14, 2024 (5:07 PM)

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The Athletic has named the Vancouver Canucks' most interesting prospect for the 2024-25 campaign.

Vancouver's prospect pool has a handful of guys who could become impactful players at the National Hockey League level down the road, but one of those who needs to have another big year is Finnish forward Aatu Raty.

During his first full season in the Vancouver Canucks organization in 2023-24, Raty registered 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists), 18 penalty minutes and was a plus-two in 72 games with their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. He went on to add four points in six games during the Calder Cup Playoffs.

In a recent article on The Athletic, Corey Pronman took a look at one �interesting' prospect from each of the 32 teams around the National Hockey League and for the Vancouver Canucks, he listed Aatu Raty.

Pronman said that the Canucks need to get some NHL value out of Raty and while it's unlikely he makes the team out of camp, if he plays well in the preseason, it could show Rick Tocchet and the coaching staff that he should be one of the first call ups from Abbotsford if an injury occurs.

"Vancouver's first-rounders in Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander are better prospects, but they need to get some NHL value out of Aatu Raty, who was a major part of the Bo Horvat deal. His skating isn't ideal, but he's a highly skilled playmaking center with size who was good in the AHL last year. The Canucks' forward group may be too good to crack out of camp, but ideally Raty plays well and shows he's ready if there's an injury." Pronman said.

It's going to be interesting to see what the preseason opportunities look like for Aatu Raty and if he's able to get some meaningful game time to show to the organization that he's capable of playing in the National Hockey League. His first chance to do that will be in the team's preseason opener against the Seattle Kraken in ten days.

Source: Corey Pronman/The Athletic
Each NHL team's most interesting prospect heading into the 2024-25 season