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The Vancouver Canucks turned down offers to move a valuable 22-year-old prospect this summer, according to a recent rumor.
The Vancouver Canucks didn’t have quite as busy an offseason as some fans would have hoped. The loss of Pius Suter to free agency and the Dakota Joshua trade raised questions as the club didn’t do much to upgrade.
Yes, keeping Brock Boeser was a major move, but that wasn’t an upgrade. It was more a question of keeping the status quo. Also, much of the offseason discourse was dominated by Quinn Hughes trade rumors.
But one trade rumor that flew under the radar was Aatu Raty heading elsewhere. Raty has been among the Canucks’ top prospects over the last couple of seasons. He finally broke into the lineup last season. However, he eventually found himself back in Abbotsford.
There, Raty was a key member in Abbotsford’s Calder Cup win. This season, however, Raty will be counted on to play a major role for the Canucks. Given the team’s relative thin depth down the middle, the Canucks were unwilling to part ways with the 22-year-old.
According to Canucks insiders Satiar Shah:
“Something I learned is how high the Canucks are on Aatu Räty… I had heard the Canucks were pretty reluctant to part with him.”
The comments published on September 8 on Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver point toward the former New York Islanders’ second-round pick drawing interest from other clubs. It’s uncertain which teams pitched the Canucks for the Finnish center.
But it seems that the Canucks have big plans for the rising star in the years to come.
Raty Major Return for Canucks in Horvat Trade
Aatu Raty was the most intriguing part of the return in the Bo Horvat trade. The Canucks moved their former captain to Long Island in January of 2023. The deal sent Raty, along with Anthony Beauvillier, and a 2023 first-round pick.
The trade brought the highly-touted Raty to the Canucks as part of the club’s focus on the future. Incidentally, Beauvillier is no longer with the team, while the first-rounder went to the Detroit Red Wings in the Filip Hronek deal. The pick turned into Axel Sandin-Pellikka, one of the Wings’ most interesting prospects.
Fast forward to 2025, and Raty will now be expected to play a significant role with the Canucks. While he won’t be a top-six player, the Canucks hope that he can anchor the third line this season. That scenario could open the door for Raty to move up the depth chart if he continues to improve.
Raty Key to Vancouver’s Success under New Coach
The Canucks will be turning over a new leaf this season under new coach Adam Foote. Rick Tocchet’s departure this summer forced the club to look for a new bench boss.
While Foote isn’t exactly new to the team, his influence as the new bench boss promises to transform the Canucks back into a playoff contender.
That’s where Raty’s all-around game will be crucial in helping the Canucks turn things around after a sour 2024-25 season.
Raty’s defensive play should be a major factor in helping stabilize the Canucks’ bottom six. Plus, the club will count on him to provide depth scoring. If all goes well, Vancouver fans could see their team make a strong case for a playoff spot this season.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst focused on covering all 32 teams with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. More about Nestor Quixtan
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