Eyes On Isles
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Islanders Aatu Räty puts on a good show for Team Finland

By Michel Anderson

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Aatu Raty #61 of the New York Islanders passes during the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on September 28, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Aatu Raty #61 of the New York Islanders passes during the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on September 28, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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The Aatu Räty revenge tour continues. After dropping not only out of the top ten at the 2021 NHL draft, Räty fell to the second round and into the grateful arms of the New York Islanders.

And since that fall, Räty has been constantly proving his doubters wrong. It started with a massive World Junior Summer Showcase (WJSS) during and immediately after the draft. That strong WJSS has since morphed into a strong loan spell with Jukurit in his native Finland where he has four points in two games.

That strong play at the WJSS and with Jukurit kept him in the good graces of the Finnish national team where he joined the U20 squad for a November four-team tournament in Sweden. And while it started a little slow for him with a quiet game 1, Räty picked it up in game 2, big time.

New York Islanders Aatu Räty puts on a show for Team Finland

Facing Sweden in Game 2 following a 6-3 loss to Russia in Game 1, Aatu Räty was placed on a top line and on the team’s top power-play unit with Toronto Maple Leafs 2020 second-round pick Roni Hirvonen. A duo that proved unstoppable today for Finland.

Finland beat Sweden 3-0 on the day. Hirvonen scored twice (once on the power play and once in the empty net) while Kasper Puutio put in the other goal for Finland. Aatu Räty had a hand in all three goals.

Three assist in one game. Two were secondary helpers (both on the power play) one primary assist (for the empty-net goal). And look he wasn’t just noticeable on the scoresheet. He was making plays and setting up teammates during the entire game.

Like this quality setup for Hirvonen. It was a perfectly played pass and shot but an even better save from 2021 first-rounder Jesper Wallstedt (20th overall by Minnesota).

So since Räty fell to 52 overall at the 2021 draft he’s gone on to play eight games at the Liiga level scoring five points and then nine games at the international level scoring 16 points. Keep in mind that a number of those Liiga games (six specifically) were played with Kärpät where Räty was played in a bottom-six role. So scoring wasn’t as easy.

Again, the Aatu Räty is revenge tour is on.

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