Vancouver Canucks Assign Forward to AHL and Announce Top Prospect Call Up

Ahead of tonight's game, the Canucks have made a roster move that includes Aatu Raty, who they acquired in the 2023 trade for Bo Horvat.

Vancouver Canucks announced on social media, Tuesday, that Arshdeep Bains had been sent down to Abbotsford and that Aatu Raty had been called up from the AHL.

With Pius Suter moving to the wing in the top six, head coach Rick Tocchet alluded to the prospect of calling up an AHL forward to fill the open fourth-line center position.

With Abbotsford, the 21-year-old Raty has had a fantastic start to the American Hockey League season. After beginning the season on Vancouver's roster, the Oulu, Finland native was leading the Abbotsford Canucks in points with seven (three goals, four assists) in eight games at the time of his call-up and appeared ready to return to the NHL.

Arshdeep Bains, who scored his first NHL goal on October 26th against the Pittsburgh Penguins, has had a difficult few games. Since that match, Bains is minus-three and has lost three one-shot games with no points.

After mostly playing in the bottom six in his seven games with Vancouver this season, Bains will be able to play big minutes in all situations when he travels to Abbotsford. Bains will also give Abbotsford a significant offensive boost, particularly if he can duplicate the success he experienced in the 2023-24 season.

The Canucks and Ducks will play each other four times this season: on the road on November 5, at home on March 5, on the road on February 27, and at home on April 5. Tonight is the first of those meetings.

Aatu Raty's position for tonight's game against the Anaheim Ducks will have to be determined later today; the puck drop is scheduled for just after 7 p.m. Pacific Time on Sportsnet Pacific.