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Canucks: Malhotra says Aatu Räty day-to-day ahead of Game 1 vs. Texas
© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

On the eve of the first Calder Cup game in Abbotsford Canucks history, the team hit the ice for practice.

With Abbotsford nearly at full health, all eyes were on first-line centre Aatu Räty and his availability. Head coach Manny Malhotra had an update regarding his status:

“Everybody that’s skating is a possibility. Playoff hockey means he’s day-to-day and he’ll be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.”

Malhotra added that Räty has been skating on his own for a while now, but wasn’t well enough to participate in today’s practice. However, he did join the non-playing group later on in practice.

Canucks fans last saw Räty in Game 2 of their second-round series against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He picked up an assist in the early second period before he exited. Abbotford managed to claw back their way back from a 3-0 first-period deficit, but fell short in overtime.

During his five games this postseason, Räty has zero goals and three assists with six shots on goal, four penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating. In his three seasons with the Canucks organization, Räty has 14 playoff games played, scoring three goals and five assists for eight points with 15 shots on goal, six penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating.

Räty split the 2024-2025 regular season between the Vancouver and the Abbotsford Canucks. He started the season in Vancouver after turning heads in training camp and preseason, especially with his unique faceoff technique. After only three games, where he picked up one assist and a 60.9% faceoff percentage, Räty was sent back down to Abbotsford.

Between multiple stints up and down, Räty finished his NHL season with seven goals and four assists for 11 points with 34 shots on goal, 14 penalty minutes, 57.4% faceoff percentage and a minus-1 rating in 33 games played. While in the AHL, Räty scored 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points with 98 shots on goal, 38 penalty minutes and a plus-9 rating in 43 games.

The Canucks will host the Texas Stars in the Abbotsford Centre on Thursday, May 29 for Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference Finals for a chance to compete for the Calder Cup, against either the Laval Rocket or the Charlotte Checkers.

This article first appeared on Canucksarmy and was syndicated with permission.

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