Which Teams Could Be In the Aatu Räty Sweepstakes?

Aatu Räty is the projected 1st overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He’s set to become the first ever Finnish player to ever go 1st overall! Who could be in the Räty sweepstakes? Who even is this Aatu Räty kid? Keep reading to find out!

Who Is Aatu Räty?

Like I said, Aatu Räty is the projected 1st overall pick in a very deep and balanced 2021 NHL Draft. He was born on November 14th, 2002, in Oulunsalo, Finland. He’s a 6’1 181lb centerman who has been playing for the Karpat team in Finland. Even though he’s a late birthday, he’s a dynamic forward who could become a franchise centerman in the NHL. He’s played 12 games in the Liiga in his young career, scoring 4 points (2 G, 2 A). He stick handles way too fast, can set up plays from anywhere in the offensive zone, shoots the puck at the net with a fast release and can think the game very well. If you were to compare him to other players, i’d say Tim Stutzle for his dynamic playing style and Auston Matthews for his shot. Overall, Raty’s a stud and should be taken 1st overall at next year's NHL Draft. 

Possible Teams that Could Pick The Future Star:

Detroit Red Wings: If we're gonna talk about who could land this player, we’ve gotta include the Red Wings. If you saw my article earlier, you would’ve seen that I want them to purposely be bad in the next few years so that they can get as high of a pick in the first round as possible. They were by far the worst team in the NHL this year and they probably won’t get much better next season. Even if they pick a guy like Perfetti or Raymond at 4th overall, they probably won't play in the NHL full time next year anyway, so pairing them with a guy like Räty, could have teams having nightmares because they’ll have to figure out a way on how to defend them! If the Wings do pick Räty, that will fill a hole at center that they need to address. 

San Jose Sharks: The Sharks were supposed to be a force in the Western Conference this year, but for whatever reason, they did poorly this season and they don’t have their own first round pick this year, due to the Erik Karlsson trade. The Sharks have a decent center core with Couture and Hertl, but it could be better if Räty joined the squad for the start of the 2021-22 season. Räty would bring a life of fresh air for the Sharks if they don’t improve next season. I mean because it’s 2020 and nobody doesn’t know what will even happen tomorrow, so the Sharks will probably win the Cup next year and this will probably mean nothing. But from what they’ve shown us this season, they’ll probably be a bottom 5 team next year once again. 

Chicago Blackhawks: The days of the Chicago Blackhawks being at the top of the NHL are pretty much over. They probably will be at the bottom of the standings in the 2020-21 season, and why not win the 1st overall pick in the process and have Aatu Raty learn from one of the best centers in Jonathan Toews. This will give Chicago a really good center core for the future with Kirby Dach, Aatu Räty and Dylan Strome. That’s pretty solid in my opinion and I bet Chicago fans would be hyped to add Räty. Other NHL fans probably won’t wanna see it though. 

Anaheim Ducks: For the Ducks to get this player, they'll probably need some lottery luck. They'll probably improve next year, so they probably won't have the highest odds to win. But from what we saw this year in the draft lottery, anything's possible I guess. I have the Ducks picking Jamie Drysdale at 6th overall this season. If they got both of Drysdale & Räty, Duck fans would be so excited! Guys like Räty, Rakell, Zegras, Drysdale, Gibson, Lindholm, Dostal, Fowler, Tracey, Steel, Comtois, Jones, could all form a very good crop of players for the Ducks moving forward to build around. Although I don't think the Ducks will have the opportunity to select Aatu Räty in 2021, crazier things have happened. Just ask Red Wing fans. 

Los Angeles Kings: The Kings probably won't jump up in the lottery for 2 years in a row, but you never know with these lotteries. They've got the 2nd overall pick this year and will either take Tim Stützle or Quinton Byfield. If they take Byfield at 2 (which they should), they'll probably trade the 1st pick in 2021 because their prospect pool on defense is kind of weak. They've got guys who can play, but not guys who you'd necessarily want to build a winner around. They'll probably try and target a guy like Lambos, Power, Edvinsson, Hughes or Hreschuk because those are left shot defenders who are available in the 2021 Draft that could be top pairing guys in the near future. 

Ottawa Senators: For the Senators to make progress next year, they'll probably not be in the running for 1st overall, but who knows, stuff happens. Ottawa has two top five picks this year and will probably select either Stutzle or Byfield at 3. Ottawa would rather Byfield, but they may want Stutzle for his versatility. Anyway, the Sens are probably the least likely team on this list to get Räty next year because they'll probably have a better roster to ice 82 times a season. If they do however add Räty, this team will be very scary and deep in a few years. 

By: Luka Tkalcevic (Instagram: luka_tkalcevic, futurehockeystars)