Maple Leafs bolster center room with intriguing Canucks trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs have moved the needle on the trade front once again amid the 2026-27 NHL season.

This time, the Maple Leafs have acquired Vancouver Canucks forward Aatu Räty. In return, the Canucks receive forwards Brandon Buhr and Jacob Quillan, Toronto announced on Thursday via a social media post on X, formerly Twitter.

The 23-year-old Raty appeared in four games with the Canucks this season, scoring a goal and posting a plus/minus of minus-2, before getting sent to Toronto.

Raty can be viewed as a depth piece behind the likes of Auston Matthews and John Tavares at center. The Maple Leafs also have Colton Sissons and Teddy Blueger at the position. Toronto can use some insurance at center with Max Domi on the long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury. The team is also without Dakota Joshua, who is week-to-week with a core injury.

Raty was a second-round pick by the New York Islanders in the 2021 NHL Draft. The Isles traded him to the Canucks in 2023.

In a statement, the Canucks thanked Raty for his time in Vancouver.

“We want to thank Aatu for all he has done for the organization, and we wish him well in Toronto,” Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson said following the trade.

“By acquiring Jacob and Brandon this move gives our group two new young players to work with as we continue to look for ways to improve our overall depth.”

The Maple Leafs are having an up-and-down start to their season, going 3-3-1 through seven games.