Introduction
It is that time of year again, folks! The 2021 NHL Entry Draft is less than a month away. Like last season, I will be churning out draft profiles for several of the top potential draftees. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, it does not seem that 30 individual profiles will be released like last year. Note, you can take a sneak peak of what to expect by looking at last year’s profiles located a quarter of the way down in this article here.
Coming into the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the New Jersey Devils are slated to have two first-round picks. One being anywhere from the top-two to between slots four through six and the other being either early 20s or all the way down between 27-30 (depending on the result of the Islander’s playoff run).
Without further ado, let’s kick off this year’s profiles by examining former highly touted prospect Aatu Räty.
Profile
Not too long ago, Finnish center Aatu Räty was considered the consensus number one overall draft pick. The 18-year old forward is listed at six-foot-one and 181 pounds. The left-handed shot has played all of his junior hockey through the Finnish system and currently plays for Kärpät of the Liiga (top professional hockey league in Finland). In the final 2021 Prospect Rankings, he checked in at third among European skaters.
The Statistics
At the age of 14, Räty began his junior hockey career in the Kärpät junior system. He put up stellar numbers in both the under-16 and under-18 leagues then moved to the top junior league—the under-20 as a 16-year old. His 2018-19 season is what really impressed everyone when he racked up 17 goals in 41 games, which is an extremely impressive feat as an extreme underager.
For that play, he was rewarded with some Liiga time during the 2019-20 season, but struggled in 12 games and was ultimately relegated him back to the under-20 league, where his goal scoring severely regressed (decreasing from 17 to two in 11 less games).
Räty spent this season playing 35 Liiga games totaling only six points. He did spend eight games in the under-20 league once again, netting seven points in eight games. Overall, after a very solid 2018-19 season, Räty—in terms of actual production—has been underwhelming. This largely explains his freefall down many boards.
The Scouting Report
Strengths:
Räty was dubbed as a consensus number one overall pick for a reason. Specifically, due to his all-around solid game. If you are looking for a full, 200-foot player, Räty should be at the top of your list. He is a true center that is very reliable in his own zone. He likes to use his size and physicality when needed in the defensive zone and also has the hockey sense to be in the right spot in both the defensive and offensive zones.
Other core strengths of his game come in his skating and ability to posses the puck individually, and for his team in the offensive zone. For his size, Räty is a very solid skater, and is tremendous at controlling the puck. In the Liiga, Räty had better possession numbers than earlier draftees and countryman Anton Lundell and Roni Hirvonen. His zone entry and exit statistics were also solid.
When examining his pure offensive abilities, it has seemed since the beginning, Räty is going to be more of a goal-scorer as he has a nice shot. However, as referenced above, the ability to actually produce with this shot seemed to fade. Nonetheless, Räty should be regarded as more of a goal-scorer than playmaker.
Weaknesses:
Räty has all the tools to become a very solid player at the next level. So, what is the concern? It is simple—his production thus far. Räty’s production, professional league or not, is nowhere near where a top-15 prospect should be. So what is the root cause?
Maybe it is an issue with consistency, aggression issue, or maybe even something mental? But at the end of the day, his ability to actually produce raw points is what will determine just how high of a ceiling Räty could reach. Which, when reading, seems common sense for just about any prospect. But, when examining Räty as a prospect, this is definitely the case because he has all the tools to become extremely successful.
Projection
Räty, at his ceiling, projects to be a very solid, second-line two-way center with a nice scoring touch. At his worst? A middle-six, possession-driver, who is very sound in his own end. As mentioned above, his true potential will be determined by if we actually see all his tools put together into actual tangible production.
As for where we may hear his name called on draft night? It seems in the middle-parts of round one is a good bet. Which is a bit surprising given how just months ago he was a near consensus first overall pick. But, the production was not there and it rightfully made him slide down rankings.
Fit with The New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils should welcome any player that could be described as one of the better two-way guys in the draft. Thanks to the lack of production this season, as unbelievable as this sounds, there is a very slim chance Räty would be available when New Jersey picks with the team’s second first-rounder. Of course, this is if the Islanders lose in the second round.
At the end of the day, early 20s is a bit of a pipe dream for Räty. All signs point to him being off the board when the Devil’s second pick comes up. Nonetheless, no matter the lack of production middle round one will be solid value for a guy regarded as a first overall pick not too long ago.
James’ Prospect Rankings
- Aatu Räty (Today)