Flyers 2021 Draft Options: Forward Aatu Räty

When general manager Chuck Fletcher and the Philadelphia Flyers pick 14th overall (but really the 13th despite a confusing NHL draft order), Finnish center Aatu Räty will likely be on the board. The stock of the former expected first-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft has dropped, and he may even fall out of the first round.

Measuring how effective teenagers will be in the NHL is a tricky thing to do. Sometimes a top prospect loses favor in the span of a single year. In this year’s draft, there seem to be more than usual. However, the good thing is that the players who slip down draft boards in 2021 draft rankings could become available later than expected.

Räty’s stock has dropped drastically, and, frankly, there’s some valid reasoning for that. He spent his last season playing for Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga, going up against fully grown men. Räty really lost the public’s love over this past campaign, where he only tallied six points in 35 games for the big club.

Räty’s inability to generate offense has seemingly turned a few teams against him. However, Flyers faithful may be able to draw a comparison between Räty and alternate captain Sean Couturier.

Coots struggled offensively in his first few seasons in the NHL, and while obviously the Liiga is not directly comparable, Räty’s offensive struggles didn’t start until he took the ice against professionals. His numbers improved dramatically when he plays in his own age range.

Räty is often commended both for his responsibility in the defensive zone and his ability to execute breakouts. He may not be a Selke-caliber player, but he has value even if his scoring doesn’t reach its formerly high expectations.

The offensive struggles Räty has faced are certainly notable, and his pass first mentality may be something that won’t win the hearts of Flyers fans right away. However, Räty still has all the tools to be a fantastic player in the NHL, particularly his good hands and strong shooting ability.

At 6-foot-1, Räty has the size required to be a quality center. If he takes the physicality that he applies in the defensive zone to his offense, he can certainly find his touch. More than anything, it seems that Räty needs two more things to truly hit his stride as an NHL talent: a bit more muscle on his frame and some solid coaching.

Oftentimes, people tend to balk at the physical talent with a seemingly low hockey IQ. To an extent, I understand that mindset. People often believe that hockey IQ can’t be taught. Räty isn’t lacking in the IQ department though. He lacks in confidence, sticking to low percentage shots when he can definitely score from better areas.

I wouldn’t go so far as to call Räty a project, but drafting him is a move that could certainly be a gamble. Betting that a player will find his scoring touch eventually doesn’t always work out, but if he can figure himself out, the Flyers may have a chance to draft a premier two-way forward at 14th overall.