Kinda liked Peart, but why not. This kid was pegged as the potential number one overall pick two years ago. He's loaded with talent
- keaner17

I liked Peart too but Isles are thin at F in the system and are pretty well-stocked with defensemen. Lou did an excellent job adding a potentially high-end player in there. Believe he is signed for another year in Finland.

Love the pick. Somewhat risky but has major upside. Was projected to be a top-10 pick, if not the top pick, but had a rough season. Lou swinging for the fences here. Great value at 52.

Scott Wheeler:

16. Aatu Räty — C, Kärpät, 6-foot-2
There’s a lot to unpack in terms of the how and why of Räty’s rollercoaster progression to this point (which I delve into in the story hyperlinked below). A lot of his tools are assets that should serve him well within the North American game if/when he comes over, which helps with some of the challenges of projecting him forward today. He’s got a pro frame, quick hands, and a hard wrist shot (though he does tend to rattle a few too many of them off of the boards). His skating continues to be a focus for him as he works to build a little more agility into his power, which is already decent. When he’s engaged and active, he can be an effective forechecker who wins back possession and then makes plays off of the wall to the interior. When he’s playing with confidence with the puck, he’s also got the tools needed to create high-danger attempts for himself. I do worry about his decision-making, though, and there will continue to be ceiling and floor questions if his trajectory doesn’t begin to follow a steeper incline sooner rather than later. The parts are there, though, and I expect a big showing at next year’s world juniors could help him rebuild some of the confidence he’s lost. When he’s on his game, he’s still fun to watch.

Corey Pronman:

19. Aatu Raty, C, Karpat-Liiga
Nov. 14, 2002 | 6-foot-2 | 185 pounds

Skating: Below-average
Puck Skills: Average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Average

Raty is one of the biggest mysteries I can recall of the last few years watching prospects. He was a go-to player for Finland coming up, as the No. 1 center for a solid U18 age group last season and making Finland’s U20 team a year before his draft, while also playing well versus men. He looked like a high-skill playmaking center with good athletic tools. Then this season came and the offense disappeared. Raty’s game looked so simple between the junior and Liiga levels and he was cut from the U20 team. Various scouts have varying theories. Some think he lacks speed. Some think he lacks hockey sense.

I’ve seen enough over the years to still believe in the player, but it’s fair to say I approach him with a large degree of caution. He has skill in his game. He has quick-twitch hands and is great at handling the puck in small areas. He’s a fine, albeit awkward, skater who makes skilled plays on the move but needs to add more pace to his game. His playmaking and shot are both solid quality, but neither are spectacular. He has some physicality to his game and brings energy to shifts. That’s the Raty I think is there, and may show up in future years, but he didn’t this season. In a sentence, Raty projects as an NHL second-line center after being one of my top-ranked prospects coming into the draft season.

Elite Prospects:

He generates so much power on every release by sacrificing a quick drawback, instead taking his sweet time loading downforce into his lever-action wrister. It’s a hard, accurate shot when he has the time and space to send it on net. He’ll drive the centre lane with the puck on nearly every entry, and he isn’t shy about setting up shop at the net-front even if it means paying a physical toll on every shift. -EliteProspects 2021 NHL Draft Guide

Chris Peters:

There it is. Aatu Räty. At one point believed to be the best forward coming into this draft, he had a really rough season. I still believe he can recover, which is why I put him 21. I'll be at World Junior Summer Showcase watching him play tonight. Can't wait to see how he looks
- eichiefs9

Sounds a little like Brock Nelson?

I liked Peart too but Isles are thin at F in the system and are pretty well-stocked with defensemen. Lou did an excellent job adding a potentially high-end player in there. Believe he is signed for another year in Finland.
- eichiefs9

Isles need forward prospects for sure. Räty seems to have good size and talent and seems like a solid pick at 52.

Sounds a little like Brock Nelson?
- JohnScammo

Sounds a little more feisty. I saw a comparison to Nazem Kadri somewhere along the line. Tenacious forechecker.

Sounds a little more feisty. I saw a comparison to Nazem Kadri somewhere along the line. Tenacious forechecker.
- eichiefs9

That's a low bar.

I was just thinking about his size, somewhat lean physique (yeah, he should get bigger/stronger with age), and his wrist shot which sounds impressive.

I agree that, picking in the 50s, this guy was worth a shot.

Tristan Lennox, presumably our eventual backup for Sorokin
6'4", third ranked North American goalie. Time for Korn and company to work their magic

Tristan Lennox, presumably our eventual backup for Sorokin
6'4", third ranked North American goalie. Time for Korn and company to work their magic
- keaner17

It's been very rough outside of Sorokin for Isles goalie picks so it would be nice to hit on one.

It's been very rough outside of Sorokin for Isles goalie picks so it would be nice to hit on one.
- ses111

You mean you weren’t impressed with JF Berube, Gibson, Koskinen, etc? I’m shocked.

You mean you weren’t impressed with JF Berube, Gibson, Koskinen, etc? I’m shocked.
- Isleshockeyman

I was and still am a huge Eric Fichaud fan. He’s so awesome.

You mean you weren’t impressed with JF Berube, Gibson, Koskinen, etc? I’m shocked.
- Isleshockeyman

Feels like Garth alone drafted about 30 goalies.

You mean you weren’t impressed with JF Berube, Gibson, Koskinen, etc? I’m shocked.
- Isleshockeyman

Someday Anders Nilsson is coming back to prove everyone wrong!!!!

Someday Anders Nilsson is coming back to prove everyone wrong!!!!
- keaner17

I actually thought he was going to develop into a good tender.

Isles select Aleksi Malinen....if you're from Finland, stay close to your phone today, Lou may be calling soon

I actually thought he was going to develop into a good tender.
- Cptmjl

I think in two years we drafted like four goalies. I believe Koskinen and Nilssin came out of the same draft. We also got Kevin Poulin within a year of that.

You mean you weren’t impressed with JF Berube, Gibson, Koskinen, etc? I’m shocked.
- Isleshockeyman

Both berube and Gibson were drafted by the kings

What, if any, hotels are close to the new arena?

Both berube and Gibson were drafted by the kings
- ziggy_skalica

They were both in our system and didn’t pan out.

I think in two years we drafted like four goalies. I believe Koskinen and Nilssin came out of the same draft. We also got Kevin Poulin within a year of that.
- keaner17

Yep. Poulin showed some promise also but after his skate got caught in a rut and he twisted his knee he was a done deal…

https://twitter.com/Offsi.../1419060721678110720?s=19

Annnnnnd Aatu scores a hattrick today

Yep. Poulin showed some promise also but after his skate got caught in a rut and he twisted his knee he was a done deal…
- Cptmjl

Would have been nice to see a healthy Poulin with a coach like Barry.

Would have been nice to see a healthy Poulin with a coach like Barry.
- ses111

He was a late rounder. At that time, most of our hopes were on Koskinen with Nilsson being a distant second. Garth drafted good on some players, but strangely missed on his goaltenders, except Ilya

Annnnnnd Aatu scores a hattrick today
- keaner17

Four goals

Would have been nice to see a healthy Poulin with a coach like Barry.
- ses111

Meh in hind sight he wasn’t good. I think we were all desperate for any glimpse of positive back then. Player would have a good game or two and we would hope to anoint them the next big thing. Even if that did happen they were either traded away or wanted nothing to do with us once they hit FA.

He was a late rounder. At that time, most of our hopes were on Koskinen with Nilsson being a distant second. Garth drafted good on some players, but strangely missed on his goaltenders, except Ilya
- keaner17

Kosiken was all the rage when we drafted him. The organization was big on him.