Aatu Raty’s case for more trust in Vancouver isn’t built on one flashy skill. It’s built on the kind of habits coaches notice fast and teammates respect even faster.
The 6-foot-2, 204-pound Finn has already shown he can bring more to the table than just a specific role. He helped Finland win a world championship in May, then followed that up with six points - three goals and three assists - in his first six games before finishing with four goals and seven points.
Canucks assistant coach Manny Malhotra pointed to the broader package Raty brings.
“He has a more well-rounded game,” Malhotra added of the 6-foot-2, 204 pound Raty. “A better understanding of who he is at this level and a confidence in knowing who he is.
There are definitely things I try to help him out on. His overall understand of the value in that particular situation, even the simplicity of a faceoff and getting off (the ice).
“Some people would turn their nose up at that job, but he relishes the situation and wants to be in those key draws.”
That mindset is part of what makes Raty stand out. He knows the daily work matters, and he treats practice like proof.
If he’s on the ice, he’s trying to sharpen something. Before practices, he uses a restraining apparatus while skating to build and sustain speed.
He also stays out longer to work on faceoffs with other centers, even when he’s scratched.
“For a guy in my position, you’ve got to show it every day and practices are huge,” he stressed. “You’ve got to show that you’re improving and that you belong here.
It’s just as big as any game. I love this stuff so much.
It’s so rare that it’s a grind for me. If it was up to me, I’d be out there for three hours.
“It’s like my first day every day. I appreciate everything.”
And if Raty wants another reminder of how a Finn can carve out a place in Vancouver, former Canucks winger Jarkko Ruutu has already written that blueprint in his own way. The hard-nosed winger put together 267 regular-season games with the Canucks, scoring 53 points with 23 goals and 28 assists, along with 453 penalty minutes.
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Canucks Hit A Familiar Frustration Against Vegas Again
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Marc Gatcomb answered with the go-ahead goal for the Golden Knights, and Adin Hill backed it with 17 saves as Vegas held on for a 3-2 win. The loss was another reminder of how hard this matchup has been for Vancouver, with Hill continuing a personal run against the Canucks and Vegas once again leaving no doubt about who has controlled this series. [Read more 🡒]