Latest news with #AatuRaty
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Canucks: No adieu Aatu Raty, feisty Finn should become roster regular next season
Never have so many choice words by Aatu Raty meant so much. 'Being in the lineup is something I never take for granted,' the Vancouver Canucks ' depth centre told Postmedia during his quest to be an NHL mainstay. 'You always want to be the player who is playing, if you have the lead, or trying to get a goal at the end.' That sounded great, but roster reality is more than prose and perspiration. Raty is coming off a solid season with 24 goals split between Abbotsford (17) and Vancouver (7), but the downside was AHL playoff injuries that limited him to six games with the Calder Cup champions. However, 40 points in 43 games didn't go unnoticed. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Aatu had a strong year in Abbotsford and showed some promise when called up,' said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin. 'It was another good step in his development as he continues to learn and grow as a pro. We expect him to compete for a job in Vancouver.' Depending on how the Canucks' solve their riddle in the middle to support Elias Pettersson and Filip Chytil — especially with the Pius Suter departure — a centre addition may mean Teddy Blueger drops to the fourth line and Raty becomes the 13th forward. But if Blueger is packaged in trade for a pivot, Raty should get that spot. Then again, if it's a free-agent acquisition in versatile centre/winger Jack Roslovic, 28, that would be another revolving roster story. And Raty knows about the career carousel. 'Three years ago, I played 15 NHL games (12 with the New York Islanders and three with Canucks) and thought I belonged,' he recalled. 'My skating is better and I'll keeping working at it and the stick battles.' Raty showed improvement last fall. He won 14 of 18 faceoffs against the Seattle Kraken in a Sept. 24 preseason test, and three nights later in Calgary, looked like a wily veteran by finishing off a third-period scoring chance with a deft toe drag in the slot and picking the top corner. What really works for the 22-year-old Raty is size, feistiness, face-off efficiency, not being waiver-exempt next season, and getting a one-way, two-year, $1.55-million US contract extension last month. More importantly, there's potential for a waiver claim, if the Canucks try to get him through for an AHL assignment to Abbotsford. Same goes for forwards Linus Karlsson and Arshdeep Bains , but that's a story for another day. With Raty, what you see in the 6-foot-2, 190-pound pivot is what you get, and most of it is good. He's not a burner, and keeps work on explosiveness and pace, but is most deadly on the draw. His 57.4 per cent face-off success in 33 NHL games last season ranked second to J.T. Miller , who went 58.6 per cent in 40 outings before being dealt to the New York Rangers. Raty is a natural for defensive-zone faceoffs, especially on the penalty kill, and has teased of more offence. He was effective in an alignment with Dakota Joshua and Kiefer Sherwood in the quest for a wild-card playoff spot. Raty was quicker and more engaged, and a spurt of five goals in eight games was notable. So is dedication. Raty is often last off the practice ice to keeping honing his skills, which drew plaudits from former Canucks bench boss Rick Tocchet . He was enamoured last fall by Raty's willingness to learn. 'When we first got him, his skating was just okay,' admitted Tocchet. 'The development guys and the Abbotsford guys did a helluva job with him, because to me he's a different player. I see another level. He looks fast out there. And every drill he does he goes 100 per cent. 'Even in the morning skate I told him he had to slow down a bit because you want to save it for tonight. I like that attitude from a young kid. The biggest thing with young guys is to remember it's the NHL. They get the puck and right away they go into awareness mode. They start to look around and don't move their feet.' Scoring chances often come from puck possession faceoffs, which Raty has taken to another level of creativeness. He worked with Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra for success in the dot and adds his own twist. 'I have a technique not a lot of guys have, but Manny has good tips on playing the opponent and the refs,' said Raty. 'He's big on having your own territory on the dot and owing it. They're good to implement, even though I might not use them right away. 'Your best go-to technique may not work against a certain centre, and I can use something I got from Manny to mess up the guy's timing.' When the left-shot Raty takes weak-side draws, he flips his stick to increase the percentage of right-side success. He turns the right hand over on his left-handed stick to win draws to the backhand. It has worked. bkuzma@
Edmonton Journal
6 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Canucks: No adieu Aatu Raty, feisty Finn should become roster regular next season
Never have so many choice words by Aatu Raty meant so much. Article content 'Being in the lineup is something I never take for granted,' the Vancouver Canucks ' depth centre told Postmedia during his quest to be an NHL mainstay. 'You always want to be the player who is playing, if you have the lead, or trying to get a goal at the end.' Article content Article content That sounded great, but roster reality is more than prose and perspiration. Article content Article content Raty is coming off a solid season with 24 goals split between Abbotsford (17) and Vancouver (7), but the downside was AHL playoff injuries that limited him to six games with the Calder Cup champions. However, 40 points in 43 games didn't go unnoticed. Article content Article content 'Aatu had a strong year in Abbotsford and showed some promise when called up,' said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin. 'It was another good step in his development as he continues to learn and grow as a pro. We expect him to compete for a job in Vancouver.' Article content Depending on how the Canucks' solve their riddle in the middle to support Elias Pettersson and Filip Chytil — especially with the Pius Suter departure — a centre addition may mean Teddy Blueger drops to the fourth line and Raty becomes the 13th forward. But if Blueger is packaged in trade for a pivot, Raty should get that spot. Article content Then again, if it's a free-agent acquisition in versatile centre/winger Jack Roslovic, 28, that would be another revolving roster story. And Raty knows about the career carousel. Article content Article content 'Three years ago, I played 15 NHL games (12 with the New York Islanders and three with Canucks) and thought I belonged,' he recalled. 'My skating is better and I'll keeping working at it and the stick battles.' Article content Article content Raty showed improvement last fall. He won 14 of 18 faceoffs against the Seattle Kraken in a Sept. 24 preseason test, and three nights later in Calgary, looked like a wily veteran by finishing off a third-period scoring chance with a deft toe drag in the slot and picking the top corner. Article content What really works for the 22-year-old Raty is size, feistiness, face-off efficiency, not being waiver-exempt next season, and getting a one-way, two-year, $1.55-million US contract extension last month. More importantly, there's potential for a waiver claim, if the Canucks try to get him through for an AHL assignment to Abbotsford.
National Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Canucks: No adieu Aatu Raty, feisty Finn should become roster regular next season
Never have so many choice words by Aatu Raty meant so much. Article content 'Being in the lineup is something I never take for granted,' the Vancouver Canucks ' depth centre told Postmedia during his quest to be an NHL mainstay. 'You always want to be the player who is playing, if you have the lead, or trying to get a goal at the end.' Article content Article content That sounded great, but roster reality is more than prose and perspiration. Article content Raty is coming off a solid season with 24 goals split between Abbotsford (17) and Vancouver (7), but the downside was AHL playoff injuries that limited him to six games with the Calder Cup champions. However, 40 points in 43 games didn't go unnoticed. Article content 'Aatu had a strong year in Abbotsford and showed some promise when called up,' said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin. 'It was another good step in his development as he continues to learn and grow as a pro. We expect him to compete for a job in Vancouver.' Article content Depending on how the Canucks' solve their riddle in the middle to support Elias Pettersson and Filip Chytil — especially with the Pius Suter departure — a centre addition may mean Teddy Blueger drops to the fourth line and Raty becomes the 13th forward. But if Blueger is packaged in trade for a pivot, Raty should get that spot. Article content Then again, if it's a free-agent acquisition in versatile centre/winger Jack Roslovic, 28, that would be another revolving roster story. And Raty knows about the career carousel. Article content 'Three years ago, I played 15 NHL games (12 with the New York Islanders and three with Canucks) and thought I belonged,' he recalled. 'My skating is better and I'll keeping working at it and the stick battles.' Article content Article content Raty showed improvement last fall. He won 14 of 18 faceoffs against the Seattle Kraken in a Sept. 24 preseason test, and three nights later in Calgary, looked like a wily veteran by finishing off a third-period scoring chance with a deft toe drag in the slot and picking the top corner. Article content What really works for the 22-year-old Raty is size, feistiness, face-off efficiency, not being waiver-exempt next season, and getting a one-way, two-year, $1.55-million US contract extension last month. More importantly, there's potential for a waiver claim, if the Canucks try to get him through for an AHL assignment to Abbotsford. Article content Same goes for forwards Linus Karlsson and Arshdeep Bains, but that's a story for another day. Article content With Raty, what you see in the 6-foot-2, 190-pound pivot is what you get, and most of it is good. He's not a burner, and keeps work on explosiveness and pace, but is most deadly on the draw. His 57.4 per cent face-off success in 33 NHL games last season ranked second to J.T. Miller, who went 58.6 per cent in 40 outings before being dealt to the New York Rangers.
CTV News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Vancouver Canucks sign four depth players to new deals
Arshdeep Bains stands on the ice during the face-off against Utah Hockey Club during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak) The Vancouver Canucks have signed four depth players to new deals after they helped the club's minor league affiliate to a championship title. Vancouver announced Monday that forwards Arshdeep Bains and Aatu Raty have inked two-year deals, while defenceman Guillaume Brisebois and forward Max Sasson signed one-year contracts. All four players spent much of last season with the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League and helped the team capture its first Calder Cup on June 19. Vancouver also announced Monday that it has extended qualifying offers to defenceman Jett Woo and goalie Nikita Tolopilo, who are both set to become restricted free agents Tuesday. The Canucks did not qualify defencemen Cole McWard and Christian Felton, or left-wingers Tristen Nielsen and Ty Glover. The NHL's free agency period will open at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Bains played 13 games for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2024-25 campaign and scored his first NHL goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 26. The 24-year-old winger from Surrey, B.C., also put up 43 points (11 goals, 32 assists) in 50 regular-season games for Abbotsford. Raty saw action in 33 games for Vancouver last season, contributing seven goals and four assists. The 22-year-old Finnish centre put up another 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 43 regular-season appearances with Abbotsford. Including his NHL debut on Nov. 23, Sasson logged 29 games with Vancouver, and put up three goals and four assists. The 24-year-old centre from Birmingham, Mich., also saw action in 41 games with Abbotsford where he registered 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists). Veteran defenceman Brisebois played three games for Vancouver last season. The 27-year-old blue liner skated in 48 regular-season games for Abbotsford and notched five points (two goals, three assists). This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Canucks sign four depth players to new deals
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Canucks have signed four depth players to new deals after they helped the club's minor league affiliate to a championship title. Vancouver announced Monday that forwards Arshdeep Bains and Aatu Raty have inked two-year deals, while defenceman Guillaume Brisebois and forward Max Sasson signed one-year contracts. All four players spent much of last season with the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League and helped the team capture its first Calder Cup on June 19. Vancouver also announced Monday that it has extended qualifying offers to defenceman Jett Woo and goalie Nikita Tolopilo, who are both set to become restricted free agents Tuesday. The Canucks did not qualify defencemen Cole McWard and Christian Felton, or left-wingers Tristen Nielsen and Ty Glover. The NHL's free agency period will open at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Bains played 13 games for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2024-25 campaign and scored his first NHL goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 26. The 24-year-old winger from Surrey, B.C., also put up 43 points (11 goals, 32 assists) in 50 regular-season games for Abbotsford. Raty saw action in 33 games for Vancouver last season, contributing seven goals and four assists. The 22-year-old Finnish centre put up another 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 43 regular-season appearances with Abbotsford. Including his NHL debut on Nov. 23, Sasson logged 29 games with Vancouver, and put up three goals and four assists. The 24-year-old centre from Birmingham, Mich., also saw action in 41 games with Abbotsford where he registered 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists). Veteran defenceman Brisebois played three games for Vancouver last season. The 27-year-old blue liner skated in 48 regular-season games for Abbotsford and notched five points (two goals, three assists). This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2025.
