The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Aatu Räty from the Vancouver Canucks in a trade on Thursday, shortly after the one-time top prospect cleared waivers. In return, Toronto sent fellow forwards Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr to Vancouver.
Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson thanked Räty for his contributions to the organization and wished him well in Toronto. Johnson said the acquisition of Quillan and Buhr gives the team two new young players as it works to improve overall depth.
The Leafs are the third NHL organization for the young Finn, who was drafted in the second round by the New York Islanders in 2021. The Islanders traded Räty to Vancouver in winter 2023 as part of the return for Bo Horvat. Räty, who turns 25 next month, has been unable to produce consistently in the league, recording 29 points in 118 games.
The move marks another chapter in Räty's search for a lasting NHL role after several stops across the league. For Toronto, the deal adds a young forward with previous top-prospect pedigree, while Vancouver continues to reshape its forward group with an eye toward greater depth.
Source: ESPN NHL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing