Player Discussion Aatu Raty

[Diversification]

I've been pumping his tires since before we traded for him and was shitting my pants that he was gonna get traded for a rental. A lot of people ignored the fact that he at one point was considered a possible 1st overall. No matter how that played out it doesn't change the fact that his talent drew that much praise.

I remember a scout who posts on HF did a deep dive on him and showed that even when his stock plummeted it was a complicated scenario, some self inflicted, some not. Anyways he talked about how when you peeled back his D-1 season despite little production the underlying numbers painted a much rosier picture and he had what he called historically bad luck, to go along with a bad fit on the team he was on.
Things got a lot better the following year but he came over and had a hard time adjusting to the AHL, which the article pointed out that he tends to take awhile to adjust to knew situations.

We all saw his last half of the season in Abby where he had clearly adjusted and played very well but it was clear from rookie camp on that he had clearly taken another big step, especially his skating.

Man imagine he ends up 2c quality as a 3c and all of a sudden Hronek and Raty and a 4th (acquired for Beauvilier) for Horvat and a 2nd is looking like a franchise altering deal.

He's following the Manny Malhotra career arc. I hope he can continue to build on this. Quality 3Cs are hard to come by.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Pretty surprised to see how strong he is at faceoffs for a 21 year old. 14 out of 18 wins are elite numbers for the stronger veteran two way centers. His defensive play means he can easily slot into a bottom six center job.
Going to be tough this year though with the depth in the forward group unless there are injuries.

 

[tantalum]

Pretty surprised to see how strong he is at faceoffs for a 21 year old. 14 out of 18 wins are elite numbers for the stronger veteran two way centers. His defensive play means he can easily slot into a bottom six center job.
Going to be tough this year though with the depth in the forward group unless there are injuries.

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?

 

[helloconga]

Saw this kid play a few games live during abby road games. He looks completely different this year.

I think he’s realizing he needed to take his game to the next level and it’s really showing. Hope he gets a shot, would be another excellent trade if he works out!

 

[MS]

Saw this kid play a few games live during abby road games. He looks completely different this year.

I think he’s realizing he needed to take his game to the next level and it’s really showing. Hope he gets a shot, would be another excellent trade if he works out!

That play where he dangled a defender and looked like he'd be through on goal before getting tripped was something I'd seen ... literally never, in probably 80 viewings over the past two years.

Offensively he has a good feel for finding seams in defenses and getting his good shot away and is a pretty solid tape-to-tape passer (like the 2nd assist last night) but I've never seen an iota of 'dangerous stickhandling on the rush'. Was an interesting development to see a very confident play like that, likely coming off some improved skating.

 

[LuckyDay]

Why do I keep hearing his name and think it's this guy playing?

 

[Vector]

View attachment 909626

Why do I keep hearing his name and think it's this guy playing?

I had no idea Ruutu ever played for the Ducks.

 

[LemonSauceD]

I’m having a hard time finding a centerman as smart and well rounded as Raty currently is at 21.

Whether he starts in the AHL or he makes the team, I think he’s poised to have a big season.

 

[MS]

Should he continue his strong play (obviously not a given) it will be interesting to see whether they'd waive Aman or PDG and keep Raty as the pressbox 13th forward or whether they'd preserve the Aman/PDG asset and send Raty down to keep getting consistent game action.

He and Aman are in pretty direct competition and Raty won that battle by a country mile last night.

 

[mathonwy]

Based on a sample size of 1 preseason game, Aman hasnt progressed much/any from last season.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Raty going to be our Lundell when we win the Cup.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Based on a sample size of 1 preseason game, Aman hasnt progressed much/any from last season.

Nils Aman is such a vanilla player who kind of sucks defensively. It's like watching Tim Schaller out there.

 

[Quinton Byfield]

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?

For what it's worth, Raty is 54.2% in his career on faceoffs, though in a small sample size. I've read that he's also an ace at the AHL level, and can change hands depending on opponent and dot.

He's always been a polished, hard working two-way hockey player of course, but I'd like to see him spend 20-30 games in the minors this year. He has to be more assertive offensively, and be the guy he was when he was 19; a dominant playdriving pivot.

I think he'll start the year up here, get sent back down when bodies get healthy again, spend some time in the minors, and be up for good after that. I think it'll be a big development year for him, and I think the Canucks top brass have high hopes for him.

 

[tantalum]

Nils Aman is such a vanilla player who kind of sucks defensively. It's like watching Tim Schaller out there.

Aman is a player that isn't going to hurt you but he also isn't likely to really help you. He's there. About all you can say.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Aman is a player that isn't going to hurt you but he also isn't likely to really help you. He's there. About all you can say.

In other words he’s a man. Nothing more.

 

[Diversification]

Aman is a player that isn't going to hurt you but he also isn't likely to really help you. He's there. About all you can say.

Agreed. Aman is more like Juho Lammiko - cheap, fast and won’t hurt you eating 4th line minutes. What made Tim Schaller such a black eye was his 1.9M cap hit for 2 years.

 

[Hansen]

He was so painfully slow before, and he wasn't noticeable for his skating last night, which was a huge improvement. I was watching live and he looked like an NHL player out there. I don't know if 4th line minutes are going to benefit him right now though, maybe with PP2 time? He'd have to beat out Blueger as well as Suter to get meaningful time this year

 

[ihaveyuidonttouchme]

whatever he did in the off-season he definitely is on a mission right now

 

[wonton15]

Aatu HawkTu

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Man I love this player.

 

[arttk]

Should he continue his strong play (obviously not a given) it will be interesting to see whether they'd waive Aman or PDG and keep Raty as the pressbox 13th forward or whether they'd preserve the Aman/PDG asset and send Raty down to keep getting consistent game action.

He and Aman are in pretty direct competition and Raty won that battle by a country mile last night.

I think PDG should be the easier waive, vets at his age tends to go through waivers pretty easily.

On Raty, I wonder if he can get faster over time now that he has figured out the right skating technique. It usually takes awhile to develop those muscles that he probably didn't use as much if he was skating completely differently.

 

[Hodgy]

Should he continue his strong play (obviously not a given) it will be interesting to see whether they'd waive Aman or PDG and keep Raty as the pressbox 13th forward or whether they'd preserve the Aman/PDG asset and send Raty down to keep getting consistent game action.

He and Aman are in pretty direct competition and Raty won that battle by a country mile last night.

It also, of course, depends on Bleuger's timeline.

But assuming Bleuger's healthy to start the season, I would expect Raty to start the year in the AHL given Rutherford and Alvin's very patient approach in Pittsburgh. But with that said, if Raty is really able to separate himself from Aman and PDG then it gets to the point where they almost have to award him the spot.

 

[mathonwy]

Agreed. Aman is more like Juho Lammiko - cheap, fast and won’t hurt you eating 4th line minutes. What made Tim Schaller such a black eye was his 1.9M cap hit for 2 years.

Lammiko is 6’3 and played big on the boards.

 

[VanJack]

Bottom line, the Canucks need more offense from their third and fourth line centers. If Raty and possibly Sasson with his speed game, could ever supplant Blueger and Aman, it would be a major step forward.

I seriously wonder whether either Raty or Sasson has much left to prove in the AHL. So if they aren't in Vancouver to start the season, it won't be long before they are.

 

[Diversification]

Lammiko is 6’3 and played big on the boards.

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.