Aatu Räty’s place in the Vancouver Canucks lineup is already becoming one of the early-season talking points.
The 23-year-old center was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the 2026-27 season, and his ice time has been limited to 9:43 per night so far. That usage only got a little more telling on Tuesday, when Räty was the extra forward at practice before the Canucks left for their six-game road trip.
This isn’t a brand-new question for Vancouver. Räty’s role came under scrutiny last season too, when he also spent stretches in the press box. So even with a new coaching staff in place this offseason, the early signs suggest the same conversation could be resurfacing again.
There is a clear case for keeping Räty in the lineup, and it starts with the dot. He won 60.5% of his faceoffs last season and is at 61.5% this year. Faceoff numbers don’t solve everything, but having a center that dependable can matter in the defensive zone and in tight late-game situations.
The other side of the equation is fit. The Canucks want speed through the middle under Manny Malhotra, and that’s not the trait Räty is best known for.
Shifting him to wing has been floated, but that comes with its own complications because he has not played that position in his career. Learning either side would mean extra work on the ice and away from it.
For Vancouver, the challenge is more than just finding Räty minutes. The club cannot simply send him to the AHL because he requires waivers and would very likely be claimed. That leaves the Canucks with a tricky decision if his usage keeps trending the way it has.
For now, Räty’s situation is one worth watching closely. More healthy scratches would only add to the speculation about where he fits in Vancouver’s plans.
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The early offense has been eye-catching, of course, but the larger takeaway for the Canucks is what Cotter looks like when the puck is not going in for him. His skating, physicality and versatility fit the profile of a player who can be used in a lot of different situations, which is exactly the sort of depth piece a rebuilding club needs to keep around. If the scoring tap stays this open, great, but Vancouver may already have found something more durable than a hot streak. [Read more 🡒]