The Vancouver Canucks have recalled forward Aatu Räty from the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, and in a corresponding move, sent down Arshdeep Bains. General manager Patrik Allvin announced the moves late Tuesday morning, ahead of the club’s optional morning skate for tonight’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

We reported yesterday that Räty was expected to be recalled, and this move really comes as no surprise, given what we saw at yesterday’s practice in Anaheim. Following a two-goal performance — including the game-winning goal that came on a shift with Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland — the Canucks have elected to give Pius Suter a run as a top six winger alongside Pettersson and Garland. Suter performed admirably when playing when playing the wing on a line with JT Miller and Brock Boeser down the stretch last season.

With that decision, however, the Canucks were without a natural fit at fourth-line centre after sending Nils Aman down to Abbotsford over the weekend. They’ve filled that hole by calling up the 21-year-old Räty.

Räty won’t have to travel far to meet the big club, as like the NHL team, the Abby Canucks are in California for a road trip of their own. Räty put up three points in Saturday’s win over the San Diego Gulls and has looked exceptional since being sent down to the AHL after three NHL games this season.

Räty came into camp with relatively low expectations surrounding him and knocked down the door, earning the spot as the Canucks’ third line centre to start the 2024-25 campaign. He managed to not look out of place alongside Conor Garland and Nils Höglander, and that says a lot about the progression he’s made, specifically to his skating.

His second stint in the NHL this season will no-doubt come with lower expectations and more favourable deployment against weaker competition given that he’s now going to be playing fourth-line minutes.

For Bains, he heads to Abbotsford for the first time this season after appearing in seven NHL games with the Canucks this season. Bains scored his first NHL goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and remains the Canucks’ first call-up option in the event of needing an extra body at the NHL level.

The moves today also keeps the Canucks’ roster at 22 skaters, leaving room for the club to activate Dakota Joshua whenever he’s ready to return.

The Canucks take on the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night before rolling into LA to take on the Kings on Thursday night. They will then return home for their first date of the season with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.