Aatu Raty is the Canucks x-factor for the 2025-26 season

The deck chairs are certainly rearranged, but are the Canucks ready to sail back to the playoffs? The ever-mercurial soap opera of Canucks hockey remains a roller coaster, now with Adam Foote promoted to head coach. The optics are not necessarily good, as Canucks carry on despite hemorrhaging key figures; yet, the team has changed its look and recouped value through those dealings.

Clearly, the present and future of the blueline has been the priority, as what was once a concern for the Canucks is now perhaps their greatest strength. Quinn Hughes leads the charge, of course, but several young defencemen are starting to make their way into the lineup. Even before one considers a prospect like Tom Willander, both Victor Mancini and Elias Nils Pettersson offer a ton of help on the blueline ahead.

There is still a lot of talent up front, as The Canucks boast a depth of capable wingers with a blend of skills between them. The goaltending is a bit of a question given Thatcher Demko’s health, but Kevin Lankinen proved vital and was at least worth the investment last season. There is a lot to like about the roster.

Central concerns

Still, the Canucks have an area of issue at centre. Elias Pettersson’s recent struggles are a huge concern, so much that at this point, his return to form should not be presumed. Filip Chytil is undoubtedly talented, though his injury history makes it difficult to rely too heavily on him staying healthy, let alone having a career season. Teddy Blueger stands out as the most reliable option, which does not necessarily inspire confidence for a playoff appearance.

With Pius Suter and J.T. Miller gone, the Canucks have a lot of questions down the middle. While an AHL Calder Cup win does earn depth prospects like Max Sasson and Ty Mueller a mention, hope for the Canucks lies elsewhere. Drafting Braeden Cootes could pay off down the line, hypothetically an excellent complement to the best version of Pettersson, but with the looming threat of Quinn Hughes’ next contract, it might be too late to help this iteration of the franchise as constructed.

In short, Aatu Raty stands out as a potential x-factor for the Canucks. Although he has not yet made his mark in the NHL, Raty has been steadily improving as a member of the Canucks. Entering his age 23 season, Raty is primed to challenge for a bigger role on this team. In fact, the Canucks probably need Raty to take this step if they want to get back into the playoffs next season.

Style and profile

Raty has been proving himself slowly, increasing his AHL production while getting a look in the NHL in a depth role. His NHL results have had their impressive areas as well, with strong flow of play metrics and an outstanding face-off percentage. With enough pace and skill to gain the zone, Raty’s tools are starting to take shape in the NHL.

Raty seems to have more of a shooter’s profile, able to find his looks from the slot or at the net front. While Raty is not an overwhelming specimen of a power forward, he is able to be effective in similar ways. His skating is more agile than top speed, his shots more about timing and location than pure power. While his usage was sheltered overall, the Canucks trusted him with defensive zone starts far more often than his brief appearance at the end of 2023–24.

Aspirations

Given the emergence of his offensive game, face-off proficiency, control of play, and that there is still clear progress, Raty is worthy of providing some hope. While a step into being a true second line centre may be ambitious, Raty certainly seems primed to push Chytil for icetime. Even this step would be huge for the Canucks, not only to cover for the possible injuries, but also to give the Canucks winger depth more connectivity.

At full health, the Canucks would be able to rely on four solid lines. With a number of core pieces having moved on in recent years, the Canucks will need their depth to compensate. The depth can ease the burden across the board, allowing each line to play less often and under more ideal circumstances.

A role on the top power play would certainly boost his production, and Raty might be closer than it appears to such a lofty role. Thanks to his face-off skill and his ability to work in tight, Raty could push for such a role sooner rather than later. For a Canucks team in need of a rejuvenating jolt, Raty embodies the infusion of internal development that can bring the Canucks back to playoff relevance. In the grand scheme of things, this might be the key to a proof of concept on why Hughes should re-sign with the team when the time comes.