Welcome back to CanucksArmy’s top 20 Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings. We have officially hit our top five, kicked off with the youngster brought in through the Bo Horvat deal in the 2022-23 season.

But first, let’s recap how we got here.

Honourable Mentions
20th ranked: Nikita Tolopilo
19th ranked: Jett Woo
18th ranked: Aku Koskenvuo
17th ranked: Ty Mueller
16th ranked: Danila Klimovich
15th ranked: Josh Bloom
14th ranked: Cole McWard
13th ranked: Max Sasson
12th ranked: Riley Patterson
11th ranked: Vilmer Alriksson
10th ranked: Anthony Romani
9th ranked: Melvin Fernström
8th ranked: Sawyer Mynio
7th ranked: Kirill Kudryavtsev
6th ranked: Arshdeep Bains

Aatu Räty, now 21, is fresh off of his first full season as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks and, as expected, has quickly established himself as a prominent fixture among the team’s forward core.

Despite bouts of inconsistency, his production was his most offensively potent since his U16 days in Finland. On any given night, he would showcase the ability to explode offensively. Heck, he delivered an incredible stretch of 14 points in seven games back in March.

In 72 regular season games, the most of any Abbotsford skater, Räty scored 18 goals and added 52 points to tie Sheldon Dries for the third-highest point total on the team. Further to Abby, those numbers stood tall among his peers, ranking fifth among U22 skaters league-wide. With an additional four points (two goals, two assists) over six playoff games, it’s safe to chalk the 2023-24 campaign as a success for the now 126-game AHL veteran.

Beyond the statistics, he showed notable improvements in several areas. Already known for his vision and creativity, his quick and powerful shot was an element that took us by surprise. When given the time and space, he displayed a deadly snapshot capable of producing highlight-worthy tallies.

While still a work in progress, his skating also showed improvement, particularly with the puck on his stick, where he could challenge defenders off the rush. His upright stance and widened stride off the puck, however, continued to limit his effectiveness. This area of his game has long hindered the Finn and will be crucial for him in maximizing his true potential.

Of course, he’s very aware of the work needed, and this self-awareness and commitment to improving that stride is evident in Räty’s off-season training.

“I think my skating has improved,” Räty told Canucks.com. “I need to get a lot better at crossovers, tighten my turns, and have my legs under my body a bit more. I tend to have my legs really wide sometimes, but I’ve liked the way I trained this offseason. I really want to be a complete package and then try to improve on everything. Right now, my skating is the main point and I think it’s gotten better. I’m definitely working hard on it.”

The good news is that he is in great hands. He continues to gain firsthand knowledge from Henrik Sedin, who made a lustrous career out of being a slightly smaller-framed forward and a mid-ranged skater. Henrik is living proof that making it without sporting elite feet can be done; it’s just getting more difficult as the game grows faster by the minute.

Another impressive element of Räty’s game last year was his versatility. He played various roles last year, including up the middle, on the wing, at even strength, on the penalty kill, power play, and everything in between. While he may not be the most physical specimen, we also liked his bite and willingness to provide a solid forecheck.

It wasn’t all butterflies and roses, though. The main issue, both this season and in the past, is that his production is marked by streaky stretches and nights where he goes somewhat invisible.

For instance, he was pointless in the seven games leading up to his incredible March stretch (14 points in seven games) and followed it with just five points in the 12 games preceding it. His production at even strength wasn’t particularly promising either, as he fired at a 0.39 point-per-game clip and finished seventh on the team in 5v5 production — trailing players like Tristen Nielsen and John Stevens, who both finished behind him in point totals.

Looking ahead, the big question remains whether Räty can play centre at the NHL level. If we’re being honest, most of his production has come from the wing. Although his face-off skills and two-way game make him a viable option, his skating and ability to drive a line independently remain concerns.

It’s not the be-all, end-all if he can’t put it all together to stick up the middle. Yet, with a dwindled prospect pool up the middle, it’s just not ideal.

That said, we can’t help but wonder if the hiring of Manny Malhotra, an ex-NHL veteran and defensive center specialist, could be crucial for his development. With Sheldon Dries no longer in the picture, there’s an opportunity for him to step up as one of Abbotsford’s top two pivots and reestablish our belief in his ability to play full-time up the middle. Malhotra’s influence, especially his defensive acumen and face-off expertise, could provide Räty with the necessary mentorship to elevate his game to the next level.

When he’s at his best, we love the potential. Yet, thanks to inconsistent play, we’re often left wanting more.

Ceiling: Räty’s NHL potential as a second-line forward is obvious. When he’s at his best, he’s providing solid two-way play and offence as a dual threat. His bread and butter is his playmaking ability, but he has shown some impressive shooting skills to boot. His ultimate potential will hinge on improving his skating and ability to drive his own line.

Floor: Whether he hits his stride as a full-fledged top-six threat or not, we expect him to carve out a role in the NHL in some capacity. As mentioned, he’s extremely versatile and can play in all situations, including special teams. If he’s not providing offence in the top six, we could see him running amok on the fourth line.

ETA: There’s a world where Räty commands a role out of training camp in September (2024-25). However, he’ll likely be back in Abbotsford for at least one more year, with a few cups of coffee throughout the year. Building off the tremendous work he brought in 2023-24, we are looking for him to command shifts consistently before we are sold on his ability to contribute at the NHL level in the short term.