Player Discussion Aatu Raty

[ChilliBilly]

He had a strong night in the circle for sure but it is pre-season. Still it is clear from Tocchet's post-game that he very much noticed Raty in a good way and his faceoffs was one of those things. Also really loves how hard he is working in every drill, practice, scrimmage and game. Raty has come to camp to make the team. He's one of those guys who if he doesn't make it out of camp he will be brought up at some point and likely never see the AHL again. The question is can he continue to improve to be more than a 4th line center or bottom 6 winger. Can he be a strong third line center?

In all honesty I am hoping he is centering our 2nd line in a. few years. If he continues to improve his skills he is going to be a very valuable contributor soon. He will be 22 at the end of this season, and a RFA, so what he is offered will depend on what happens this year. If he has a good year, it will be interesting to see what sort of contract he gets.

 

[Regress2TheMeme]

What Raty showed last night was intriguing. He's got size and skill and smarts. His nice, soft bump pass to Hoglander was pretty and he was an inch away from scoring a beautiful bar down goal. I really hope his skating continues to come along as he could add some skill to the lineup and maje the Canucks more of an offensive threat 5 on 5. Despite his slow footspeed he's got a nice pass or shoot skillet that will compliment his smarts.

 

[MS]

What Raty showed last night was intriguing. He's got size and skill and smarts. His nice, soft bump pass to Hoglander was pretty and he was an inch away from scoring a beautiful bar down goal. I really hope his skating continues to come along as he could add some skill to the lineup and maje the Canucks more of an offensive threat 5 on 5. Despite his slow footspeed he's got a nice pass or shoot skillet that will compliment his smarts.

The bump pass on Hoglander's goal was Linus Karlsson - Raty had the 2nd assist moving it down to Karlsson.

 

[Regress2TheMeme]

The bump pass on Hoglander's goal was Linus Karlsson - Raty had the 2nd assist moving it down to Karlsson.

Ahhh, ok. Nice play from Karlsson.

 

[mathonwy]

Aman is 6'2. And Lammiko's style of play was more a reflection of Tyler Motte who was the actual play driver on that line.

Interesting.

I though Aman was 6’ for some reason.

Aman isn’t a defensive liability but plays much smaller than Lammiko IMO.

 

[TruGr1t]

He's still not a blazer, but he's not getting caught behind the play like he was due to the improved skating. I was mostly impressed with his work in the dot last night, I didn't even know he could do that. It will be interesting to see how he holds up defensively because it's Tocchet we're talking about ... but I didn't think he could play centre, so this has been really encouraging.

 

[ohnoeszz]

Ahhh, ok. Nice play from Karlsson.

There was another sequence though where Hoglander came up to the high slot and let the pass to Raty go by him while Raty one touched the puck back for a high slot one-timer with a clear path on the net.

Clearly a rehearsed play but still nice to have players capable of executing it. It was an interesting fold to how the PP could develop.

Maybe not the thread for it but while we are on the topic of the PP, I really hope someone has gotten through to Hughes to give the puck down to the low man on the PP whenever possible rather than trying to hold and create at the blueline always.

Hughes is fantastic but he overhandles at times and that simple high to low movement would open up so much if he makes the defense respect it.

 

[FilHronek Orchestra]

Aatu HawkTu

HawkTu, A.

 

[F A N]

Aman is 6'2. And Lammiko's style of play was more a reflection of Tyler Motte who was the actual play driver on that line.

Motte was definitely the driver on that line but at the end of the day, the Lammikko, Motte, and Highmore line had a stretch of very strong play and Lammikko played the way Boudreau and the Canucks wanted him to play and chipped in offensively.

I've been critical of Aman because I just don't see a passive low event defensive player having a long NHL career. It's just one of those things where bubble players need to add to their game / bring something tangible to stay in the league. Things like worth ethic, getting in on the forecheck, throwing hits, drawing penalties, blocking shots, winning faceoffs, and chipping in offensively help 4th liners stay in the league. Like if you break it down Aman has attributes you like but if if doesn't take a significant step forward you'll have guys like Raty pushing for a spot.

We gave Aman a shot when he was 22. He'll be 25 by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Raty will turn 22 in November. If Raty continues to improve and show promise I'll give him a shot on the roster and see if he can establish himself as an NHL regular.

 

[Blue and Green]

I think he'll be sent to Abbotsford to start the season, at least. His skating looks better but still an issue for the NHL, especially if they have designs on him playing centre at some point. He's always shown some good qualities and I'd peg his realistic NHL ceiling as a solid third-liner. Definitely the second-best forward prospect in Abbotsford behind Lekkerimaki. Let him get plenty of minutes as a centre in the AHL and see how he develops.

 

[VanJack]

At some point if your're going to 'talk the talk' you've got to 'walk the walk'. The Canucks front office keeps preaching that if some of the young guys come in and outplay some of the veterans and force their way on to the team, they'll find a place for them.

Unless that's just empty platitudes, if the pre-season ended today, Raty would be on the team.

 

[Blue and Green]

I think he'll be sent to Abbotsford to start the season, at least. His skating looks better but still an issue for the NHL, especially if they have designs on him playing centre at some point. He's always shown some good qualities and I'd peg his realistic NHL ceiling as a solid third-liner. Definitely the second-best forward prospect in Abbotsford behind Lekkerimaki. Let him get plenty of minutes as a centre in the AHL and see how he develops.

So I've changed my mind on this one. They seem comfortable with Raty at centre, and he has had a pretty good preseason, and there's genuine playing time available at that position with Blueger out. Might as well give Raty a chance to start the season ahead of a WYSIWYG spare-part type like Aman.

 

[nuxnux1]

Raty has 100+ games in the ahl, he’s ready to show what he’s got now. If he sinks it’s very unlikely he turns into anything. There’s a such thing as over cooking a prospect also, he needs to play with nhl players that think the game on his level.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

He's ready.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Let the Raty era begin!

 

[JAK]

Raty has to show that he can be an every day player.

Aman can be the 13th forward sitting in the press box rotating with Sprong. Canucks would probably rather Raty spend the full year developing in Abbotsford, than him not getting enough games in the NHL.

 

[MS]

He's ready.

Yup.

You simply can't justify keeping Aman up over him. He looks confident, looks like an NHL player, is doing NHL player things.

 

[Blue and Green]

Raty has to show that he can be an every day player.

Aman can be the 13th forward sitting in the press box rotating with Sprong. Canucks would probably rather Raty spend the full year developing in Abbotsford, than him not getting enough games in the NHL.

That's what I was thinking at first, too, but he's done well enough in preseason to deserve a shot and Blueger's absence opens up an opportunity for regular lineup time at centre. If it's not going well enough in the regular season, then they can send him down when Blueger returns.

 

[Hodgy]

Yup.

You simply can't justify keeping Aman up over him. He looks confident, looks like an NHL player, is doing NHL player things.

The real question is whether they want him to continue to develop offensively in the AHL.

 

[arttk]

The real question is whether they want him to continue to develop offensively in the AHL.

I think the next step in development is to play at a higher level of competition.
It’s not that beneficial to play at a level that is easy for him and if he’s ready for the NHL then the A is probably too easy.

 

[MS]

I think the next step in development is to play at a higher level of competition.
It’s not that beneficial to play at a level that is easy for him and if he’s ready for the NHL then the A is probably too easy.

He looks to have chemistry with Garland I wonder if you can use him at 3C (which gives him pretty decent offensive looks) and run Miller-Pettersson-Raty-Blueger as your four Cs.

 

[Paulinbc]

He looks to have chemistry with Garland I wonder if you can use him at 3C (which gives him pretty decent offensive looks) and run Miller-Pettersson-Raty-Blueger as your four Cs.

I like that approach. I don't see him as a 4th line banger at all. This gives him an opportunity to succeed in an environment he's more comfortable with.

 

[Regal]

I like that approach. I don't see him as a 4th line banger at all. This gives him an opportunity to succeed in an environment he's more comfortable with.

In some ways this is the benefit of Garland being able to drive a third line on his own. Raty could play in a role that isn’t as limited as the fourth line, but where he doesn’t have to be the best player and also not have the pressure of having to perform like a top 6er. At the very least it’s worth a shot to try against real competition until guys get healthy and worst case he gets a taste and learns what else he needs to keep working on.

 

[arttk]

He looks to have chemistry with Garland I wonder if you can use him at 3C (which gives him pretty decent offensive looks) and run Miller-Pettersson-Raty-Blueger as your four Cs.

Hog - Blue - Sprong

4th line roles for Hog and Sprong until defense improves

 

[Vector]

He looks to have chemistry with Garland I wonder if you can use him at 3C (which gives him pretty decent offensive looks) and run Miller-Pettersson-Raty-Blueger as your four Cs.

I like this more as it keeps Suter as a utility forward.