Player Discussion Aatu Raty

[Blue and Green]

Hog - Blue - Sprong

4th line roles for Hog and Sprong until defense improves

Teams don't usually run with two guys on the fourth line who aren't reliable defensively and cannot handle PK duty, especially when the third line would have two guys that haven't proven themselves on the PK (Raty and Garland). I think Phil D might be a regular in the lineup early in the season for that reason.

 

[Jyrki]

I always assumed that Raty has the Islanders' 1st rounder in 2021, kinda insane he dropped deep into the 2nd in retrospect. Definitely looks ready to be a full-time contributor, although I'll temper expectations a bit since skating well enough to keep up with NHL speed through a season isn't a given at this point I don't think.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

I always assumed that Raty has the Islanders' 1st rounder in 2021, kinda insane he dropped deep into the 2nd in retrospect. Definitely looks ready to be a full-time contributor, although I'll temper expectations a bit since skating well enough to keep up with NHL speed through a season isn't a given at this point I don't think.

There were rumblings of him going high in the 1st that year but he struggled mightily out of the gate.

 

[JT Milker]

Hoglander I can see on a 4th line with his energy. Sprong is top 6 or bust, which is why he’s bounced around so much.

 

[Lindgren]

Hoglander I can see on a 4th line with his energy. Sprong is top 6 or bust, which is why he’s bounced around so much.

I thought that one of the positives for Sprong was that he was able to produce points in limited minutes playing bottom six.

 

[arttk]

Teams don't usually run with two guys on the fourth line who aren't reliable defensively and cannot handle PK duty, especially when the third line would have two guys that haven't proven themselves on the PK (Raty and Garland). I think Phil D might be a regular in the lineup early in the season for that reason.

I think the PKers are Bluegar, Suter, Heinek, Debrusk, Miller, Petey, Sherwood and the only rookie doing PK is Raty. I think we are fine with PK.

I think it Raty makes it as a center, they will want to have 2 defensively responsible guy with him. I don’t see them letting Hog or Sprong play with him, it’s too risky to have a rookie center cover for either of them.

 

[Blue and Green]

I think the PKers are Bluegar, Suter, Heinek, Debrusk, Miller, Petey, Sherwood and the only rookie doing PK is Raty. I think we are fine with PK.

I think it Raty makes it as a center, they will want to have 2 defensively responsible guy with him. I don’t see them letting Hog or Sprong play with him, it’s too risky to have a rookie center cover for either of them.

You might be right, although at present Blueger's out and I doubt that they want to use too many top-6 forwards on the PK. My guess is that either Di Giuseppe or Aman will be in the lineup, at the very least on the roster, until Blueger returns. Tocchet's pretty keen on his defensively responsible forwards.

 

[arttk]

You might be right, although at present Blueger's out and I doubt that they want to use too many top-6 forwards on the PK. My guess is that either Di Giuseppe or Aman will be in the lineup, at the very least on the roster, until Blueger returns. Tocchet's pretty keen on his defensively responsible forwards.

He’s already back in the full practice squad, he will most likely play the last preseason game.
feels like the only ones that will definitely never PK are Hog and Sprong, I am not too worried about the PK. Raty is pushing out Aman, not sure if Aman is the better PKer, if anything Raty is better at faceoffs.

 

[Blue and Green]

He’s already back in the full practice squad, he will most likely play the last preseason game.
feels like the only ones that will definitely never PK are Hog and Sprong, I am not too worried about the PK. Raty is pushing out Aman, not sure if Aman is the better PKer, if anything Raty is better at faceoffs.

Thanks, I was unaware that Blueger is that close to returning.

 

[Leif Rohlin]

If Raty does make the team and Blueger is ready for opening night we have some interesting options.

I would have assumed Blueger would slide back in on Garland's line but maybe you keep Hoglander-Raty-Garland together with the chemistry they've shown. Then you could run Suter-Blueger-Sherwood as more of a matchup line.

 

[Ernie]

Hog - Blue - Sprong

4th line roles for Hog and Sprong until defense improves

This leaves one of Sherwood, Heinen, or Suter as your 13th forward. I doubt that happens as all 3 of those bring reasonable amounts of offence 5v5 but don't have the defensive deficiencies.

Raty has had a good camp but I imagine they'll send him down even if just to stay out of LTIR. He's not going far though. Aman and PDG are also useful and the Canucks wouldn't want to lose them both to waivers.

 

[VanJack]

This leaves one of Sherwood, Heinen, or Suter as your 13th forward. I doubt that happens as all 3 of those bring reasonable amounts of offence 5v5 but don't have the defensive deficiencies.

Raty has had a good camp but I imagine they'll send him down even if just to stay out of LTIR. He's not going far though. Aman and PDG are also useful and the Canucks wouldn't want to lose them both to waivers.

This leaves one of Sherwood, Heinen, or Suter as your 13th forward. I doubt that happens as all 3 of those bring reasonable amounts of offence 5v5 but don't have the defensive deficiencies.

Raty has had a good camp but I imagine they'll send him down even if just to stay out of LTIR. He's not going far though. Aman and PDG are also useful and the Canucks wouldn't want to lose them both to waivers.

The only issue to be answered is whether or not at this point Raty is a better center than Blueger, Suter or Aman. If the answer is 'yes', than the Canucks will be a worse team if they farm him out.

 

[arttk]

This leaves one of Sherwood, Heinen, or Suter as your 13th forward. I doubt that happens as all 3 of those bring reasonable amounts of offence 5v5 but don't have the defensive deficiencies.

Raty has had a good camp but I imagine they'll send him down even if just to stay out of LTIR. He's not going far though. Aman and PDG are also useful and the Canucks wouldn't want to lose them both to waivers.

Heinen - miller - Boeser
Debrusk - Petey - Sherwood
Suter - Raty - Garland
Hog - Bluegar - Sprong
pDG
I think that works

 

[Ernie]

The only issue to be answered is whether or not at this point Raty is a better center than Blueger, Suter or Aman. If the answer is 'yes', than the Canucks will be a worse team if they farm him out.

Not so simple. Losing Aman to waivers also eats into your center depth. What if Raty isn't quite ready, but they keep him on the roster and they lose Aman? Suddenly the team is screwed if one of the other centers goes down to injury.

Having a depth center who they can send up and down without exposing to waivers is a luxury they'd be fools to give up. If he goes on a tear in the AHL that's another story, but by that time they'll probably have had injuries to their forward corps anyhow.

 

[arttk]

Not so simple. Losing Aman to waivers also eats into your center depth. What if Raty isn't quite ready, but they keep him on the roster and they lose Aman? Suddenly the team is screwed if one of the other centers goes down to injury.

Having a depth center who they can send up and down without exposing to waivers is a luxury they'd be fools to give up. If he goes on a tear in the AHL that's another story, but by that time they'll probably have had injuries to their forward corps anyhow.

I think PDG would pass through waivers.

 

[Ernie]

I think PDG would pass through waivers.

Probably. More worried about Aman, as the Canucks only have 5 NHL centers if you don't count Raty.

 

[sting101]

With the emergence of Max Sasson i wouldn't worry about Nils Amen if push comes to shove to allow Raty to play 3C which he's earned at this stage

 

[arttk]

Probably. More worried about Aman, as the Canucks only have 5 NHL centers if you don't count Raty.

Do we need to send 2 guys down and carry zero extra forward to make the cap work?

 

[Ernie]

Do we need to send 2 guys down and carry zero extra forward to make the cap work?

It depends on if they want to stay out of LTIR to start the season, as they've stated. If that's the case, with Joshua, Demko, and Poolman on IR they only have cap space for one player in the box. So if they keep Raty they need to choose between Juulsen, Friedman, Aman, and PDG as to who they keep, and expose the rest to waivers. I wouldn't want to lose Friedman or Aman, not so worried about Juulsen and PDG.

But at the end of the day they really just need to trade Poolman's contract. There are 3 teams with more than $20m in cap space right now. Columbus is actually below the cap floor. If they feel strongly about keeping Raty on the roster, that's the move they should make.

 

[VanJack]

I think PDG would pass through waivers.

The mandate of the front office and the coaching staff is to 'win now'. And for that to happen, you need the best players in your lineup.

And you can't base your decisions solely on worrying about who might be lost to waivers if they get exposed. The Canucks decided to trade Podkolzin to the Oilers for the same reason. If Aman is that valuable, then they should think about 'trading him; rather than exposing him to waivers.

Everybody seems to think Aman is an 'automatic claim' if he's exposed. But he's now 24, and every team in the league has a 'prospect' who's the same age and in the same boat. And with so many teams tight to the cap, it wouldn't surprise me if there are hardly any waiver claims in the next week or so.

 

[tantalum]

I wouldn’t worry about Aman at all. There will be several other players of similar ability up and down through waivers all year long.

 

[David71]

raty should be making the team. hes very good defensively. stick work and distrupting plays. i think he be in over aman imo. aman probably be waiver claimed by somebody or traded. vancouver can pick someone else off waivers whose a center preferebly a righty.

 

[RobertKron]

raty should be making the team. hes very good defensively. stick work and distrupting plays. i think he be in over aman imo. aman probably be waiver claimed by somebody or traded. vancouver can pick someone else off waivers whose a center preferebly a righty.

Wouldn't they then have to send Raty down to clear a roster spot for the preferably right-handed centre you're suggesting they claim?

 

[David71]

Wouldn't they then have to send Raty down to clear a roster spot for the preferably right-handed centre you're suggesting they claim?

no.. trade or send down aman. theres an open spot.

 

[VanJack]

I know Tocchet loves his veterans so he probably rides Blueger and Suter for another season.

But selfishly, I'd love to see a third-fourth line center tandem of Raty and Sasson. Bigger and better skaters. You might lose a little at the start of the season, but these kids could really benefit from a year in the NHL and be a big upgrade in the long run.