With training camp now in the past, the Vancouver Canucks set their focus on their preseason games, which kick off on Tuesday evening as they host the Seattle Kraken.
For many players, tonight’s match acts as an opportunity to shake off the summer rust and prepare for their imminent NHL roles. However, for others, it’s a chance to showcase their abilities and prove that they have what it takes to play Vancouver Canucks hockey.
Among those eager to make an impression is Aatu Räty, who will be looking to build on a strong finish to his 2023-24 season, where he spent the entire year developing with the Abbotsford Canucks. There, he took solid leaps in development and finished with a career-high 52 points to finish third on the team.
Early line rushes indicate that Räty will be given a strong opportunity to make his mark, as he’ll stick with his training camp linemates, Conor Garland and Nils Höglander.
“Obviously, two really good players,” Räty told reporters on Tuesday. “I thought we found some good chemistry out there. And in training camp, I thought the training camp game and all the practices went well. So, I’m really excited.”
In addition to top-six minutes, he will also be given time to showcase his vision and underrated release on the team’s secondary powerplay unit alongside his fellow linemates, Linus Karlsson and Christian Wolanin.
Räty, who is considered one of the organization’s top prospects with 235 games of professional games dating back to his time in Finland (Liiga), knows that age is just a number when it comes to earning a spot on the team. Despite being only 21, he doesn’t see that as a roadblock to making the NHL roster.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are, you know, 21 or 31, you just want to make the team,” Räty said. “Obviously, as a 21-year-old, I know I have a lot of room to improve and a lot of time to do so.
“But, at the same time, I think I’ve put in the hours, and I feel like I’m ready for it.”
For now, Räty is focused on showcasing his skills and controlling what he can. He’s not overly concerned about when he will become a full-time NHL player, as he believes that with hard work, it’s only a matter of time.
“It’s just about keeping at it, you know? I just gotta keep working,” he mentions. “I think if I do the right things every day, it’s going to happen eventually. I’m not too worried about when it’s going to happen. I just know if I keep working, it’s going to happen.”
Rick Tocchet has already confirmed that both he and fellow youngster Jonathan Lekkerimäki will be given “three to four games” throughout their six-game pre-season slate. So, tonight is just the first of many opportunities for Räty to showcase that he’s ready to take on a new chapter of his career and stick full-time with the Vancouver Canucks.
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