Leo Lööf Signing With Liiga Club Ilves
A St. Louis Blues prospect is taking his talents back to Scandinavia.
As first reported by Mike Meyer of STL Sports Central, defenseman Leo Loof is signing a two-year contract with Ilves in Finland for the 2026-27 season. According to the club’s press release, the 24-year-old defenseman will return to his former club, where he previously spent two seasons before his journey to North America.
Loof finished his 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring six points in 47 regular-season games played with Springfield. He did not dress during their Calder Cup playoff run, which ended via an 8-1 Game 5 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The former third-round pick in 2020 spent three seasons under the St. Louis Blues organization on a three-year entry-level contract signed back in 2023 that paid him $2.6MM ($867,500 AAV). The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Swede did not see an NHL debut, playing all three of those ELC seasons with the Thunderbirds for a total of 168 AHL games.
Leading into the 2020 NHL Draft, Loof was profiled as a tough player in his own end, who was efficient in his poise and ability to make strong reads on a play and deliver heavy hits. His accolades before coming across the pond included Bronze Medals with Ilves and the Swedish World Juniors team. He also won a Hlinka Gretzky Cup Bronze in 2020 and was considered the J18 Best U18 Defenseman while scoring the most points (12) by a defenseman in the J18 Allsvenskan in 2018-19.
The former 88th overall pick was in a logjam in comparison to other left-handed defensemen in the Blues system. St. Louis already extended Philip Broberg through 2032 at $48MM ($8MM AAV), Cam Fowler through 2030 at $18.3MM ($6.1MM AAV), as well as Tyler Tucker, who has a year left at $925,000. Among his counterparts in the pool, ELCs were signed by Lukas Fischer, at age 19, in late March, and Colin Ralph put ink to paper out of Michigan State in early April. Already in the AHL, Theo Lindstein and Michael Buchinger both played more games than Loof this past season.
New general manager Alexander Steen will inherit three selections in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft, where some prominent defensemen could potentially be available for the taking, who would rank high among their prospect pool if selected. St. Louis could use those picks to take a defenseman at either the guaranteed 11th or 15th overall picks (Colorado’s standing to be determined). As the Blues look to build back into playoff contention out of their fifth-place finish in the Central Division, they currently carry $15.7MM in cap space.
Morning Notes: Malkin, Kane, Pronger
Some familiar names from the 2000’s have circulated recently in the hockey world.
The biggest is one who, as expected, doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. Evgeni Malkin is not likely to sign anywhere but Pittsburgh, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. The long-time Russian star turns 40 a month after free agency opens on July 31, and his agent, J.P. Barry, has already been in discussions with the Pittsburgh Penguins about coming back on a one-year deal. The length appears to be consistent with both parties, but now it comes down to the question of how much money Malkin is to be paid.
Malkin is coming off the final season of a four-year contract worth $24.4MM ($6.1MM AAV). He finished his age-39 season with 19 goals for 61 points in a season where he played just 56 games, finishing fifth on Pittsburgh in scoring. That tally puts him at a cost of $100k per point, however, because of his contract being frontloaded, his $4.8MM in total salary from 2025-26 is likely where LeBrun believes the Penguins want to begin their number, while Malkin’s camp wants to start around his previous cap hit. It’s not out of the question that if Pittsburgh, who carries $42.5MM in cap space, wants to save as much as they can among their eight free agents and beyond, they can give Malkin performance bonuses to hinder the AAV on the contract.
Additional notes include:
- According to Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now, Patrick Kane‘s name has emerged as the potential lone unrestricted free agent that the Detroit Red Wings could be considered in re-signing in Hockeytown. The all-time American star finished with 57 points in 67 games in his third consecutive one-year contract with the Wings that paid him $3MM in his age 37 season. Kane’s cost per point carried a low $53K that Detroit would hope to continue benefiting from. If true, general manager Steve Yzerman will be parting ways with forwards David Perron and James van Riemsdyk, as well as defenseman Travis Hamonic and goaltender Cam Talbot. Simon Edvinsson is the lone defensive restricted free agent, and with $32.6MM in cap space to spare, a chunk of that will head towards the young Swede’s future paycheck.
- Allen’s tweet in particular referenced that van Riemsdyk’s spot, which fluctuated in many spots on the wing, would be filled by a younger player. Perhaps Carter Mazur (8 GP in 2025-26), Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (14 GP in 2025-26), and even Nate Danielson (28 GP in 2025-26) can compete for more ice time if this development comes to fruition.
- Chris Pronger interviewed for the Toronto Maple Leafs president of Hockey operations role, he confirmed as a guest on TSN 1050’s OverDrive show. The 51-year-old said that he had a good conversation about the team’s direction and his thoughts on their needs with MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelly. While he received positive feedback for his discussions, Toronto ultimately went for their options in John Chayka and Mats Sundin. Pronger previously denied rumors that he was interviewing for the Leafs GM role on another TSN show. The Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman, while working in media right now, isn’t opposed to a front office role but emphasized that it needs to be a situation that is right for him to take a new opportunity.
Update On Nico Hischier, Future With Devils
New Jersey and its captain’s camp have initiated a conversation.
That conversation, as understood by Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, is so far in the right direction regarding the extension of the Devils’ former No. 1 overall pick from the 2017 NHL Draft. While Nico Hischier is across the pond competing in and for his home country of Switzerland at the 2026 IIHF World Championships, his agent, Allain Roy, made a pit stop to meet with the Devils’ new general manager, Sunny Metha, about Hischier and his future in red and black.
To LeBrun’s understanding, the talks were positive between both sides in their initiation. But it would be beneficial for the Devils to sign their top-line center to a long-term deal before the 2026-27 season. Doing this would ensure Metha and the front office some clear headspace to address the team’s goals to get back to the playoffs and contend. That can be done so long as the new GM can find a number that works for both sides, in the sense that Hischier can be paid handsomely for his services, and the Devils have wiggle room to operate on other areas of the roster.
Although this situation is in its initial stage, that doesn’t mean that other NHL teams have their backs turned with what’s going on in Newark. LeBrun, in his writings, referred to many teams as potential suitors who would benefit from Hischier; The Los Angeles Kings, who lost longtime legend Anze Kopitar to retirement, the Montreal Canadiens, having Hischier as a second center to round out the team’s top-six, the Minnesota Wild, who are also in need of men down the middle, plus around half the league if the Swiss star was made available.
But he isn’t at the moment, so the focus remains on New Jersey alone.
The 27-year-old has a year left on his current contract, which was a seven-year deal that will ultimately add up to $50.75MM ($7.25MM AAV) in earnings at the end of this upcoming season. He ended last year scoring 28 goals for 66 points in his first 82-game season since his rookie campaign in 2017. Playing 400 games total on this particular contract, he’s amassed 353 points and has seen two playoff runs in 2023 and 2025, adding 11 points in 17 postseason games.
Those two playoff appearances came in the last four years, so New Jersey has elevated itself as a team that can make the dance. However, if they want to contend on a year-to-year basis, locking Hischier in would be a great first step, one that Metha would ideally like to have in place this summer before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next year in 2027.
The NHL cap is projected to rise again to what is speculated to be $113.5MM when Hischier will have his next deal in place, per Puckpedia. New Jersey, with the already rising cap, has around just $11.8MM to work with on its current free agent outlook. They need to address forwards Evgenii Dadonov, Zack MacEwen, and defenseman Dennis Cholowski before they hit the open market and have restricted free agents in forwards Arseny Gritsyuk, Paul Cotter, and former second-overall pick, Simon Nemec on the backend.
The Devils have won 42 games in each of the past two years under Sheldon Keefe as head coach. In 2024-25, that granted them a spot in the postseason, this year, it was enough to get the 12th overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft. If Metha wants to push the needle further towards contention for New Jersey, utilizing that draft pick in either fashion to select a top prospect that could develop into a low-cost, high-reward player or trading the pick for a win-now player could prove worthwhile based on the decision made there.
Regardless, extending the captain seems to be where the signs are pointing. For a player, among Devils since the start of the 2020’s, to score at a 0.88 points per game pace (3rd on NJ), hold a +21 rating (2nd on NJ), win 54.9% of all faceoffs (2nd on NJD), and to be one of three players to score over 300 points up to today (1st. Jesper Bratt, 418 points and 2nd. Jack Hughes, 407 points), that’s an integral peice towards the ultimate goal.
Beauchesne Commits to Boston College
The Boston College Eagles continue their aggressive roster reconstruction for the 2026-27 season, announcing a commitment from promising defenseman Quinn Beauchesne. The 19-year-old Ottawa native arrives at “The Heights” as a major boost to a defense corps looking to reload after the departure of key veteran talent to the professional ranks.
Beauchesne, a right-shot blueliner standing 6-foot-0, was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (148th overall) of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He comes to the collegiate level following a productive three-year tenure with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
During his final campaign with the Storm in 2025-26, Beauchesne set career highs with seven goals and 28 assists for 35 points in 56 games. He’s known for his high-end skating, navigating defensive pressure, managing zone exits, and being a reliable presence at the point. Earlier this spring, he gained his first look at professional hockey after signing an ATO with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
His arrival at Boston College is expected to be immediate. Head coach Greg Brown, who has successfully integrated several CHL talents into his system recently, likely envisions Beauchesne playing a significant role in his defensive rotation, potentially even stepping into a power-play quarterback role. As the Eagles look to maintain their status as a premier NCAA powerhouse, the addition of a drafted, experienced defender like Beauchesne serves as a cornerstone move in their ongoing defensive rebuild.
Free Agent Focus: Boston Bruins
The NHL offseason is rapidly approaching, and for a team like the Boston Bruins—fresh off a competitive but ultimately disappointing exit in the 2026 playoffs, the summer months offer a pivotal transition point. With a solid core in place, the Bruins face the task of pivoting from a playoff participant to a Stanley Cup contender.
Key Restricted Free Agents
D Jordan Harris – As the lone RFA currently on the NHL roster, Harris is the primary focus for internal contract negotiations. At 25, he has already gained significant league-wide experience, having logged 172 appearances across Montreal, Columbus, and Boston. While his 2025-26 ice time was limited, his mobility and reliability make him a logical candidate for a “prove-it” bridge deal. Boston will look to lock him in at a manageable cap hit as they evaluate whether he represents a long-term fixture in their defensive corps or a piece that needs to be supplemented by external upgrades.
Other RFAs: G Luke Cavallin, F Riley Duran, F Alexis Gendron, F Fabian Lysell, F Matt Poitras, F Max Wanner, G Simon Zajicek.
Key Unrestricted Free Agents
F Viktor Arvidsson – Arvidsson provided a veteran presence for the Bruins this past season, offering a consistent scoring touch in the middle-six. However, at 33, he now hits the open market at a time when the Bruins are prioritizing younger, more sustainable depth. While he remains a proven commodity capable of contributing on the power play, his future in Boston likely hinges on whether the team can land a higher-impact offensive upgrade. If a match doesn’t materialize, he is a prime candidate for a contender looking for a reliable, experienced winger on a short-term contract.
D Andrew Peeke – Peeke’s value as a right-shot defensive specialist was on full display this season, particularly in his ability to eat minutes and lead the team in blocked shots. Despite his importance to the team’s defensive structure, industry buzz suggests that both parties may be heading toward a split. With Boston actively hunting for a more dynamic, puck-moving presence to bolster their blue line, Peeke appears likely to test the market, where his specialized skill set as a steady, reliable hand will undoubtedly attract attention from clubs seeking defensive stability.
Other UFAs: F Matej Blumel, F Patrick Brown, D Michael Callahan, F Riley Tufte, F John Farinacci, F Navrin Mutter, F Georgii Merkulov, D Victor Soderstrom.
Projected Cap Space
The Bruins enter the offseason with $15.42 million at their disposal. In a vacuum, this is a healthy figure, but it must be managed with surgical precision. With the team needing to bolster their scoring depth and potentially overhaul parts of the defensive rotation, Sweeney will likely have to balance the high costs of a thin UFA market against the potential of trade-market acquisitions. Whether they choose to hunt for marquee talent or invest in filling multiple depth roles, the Bruins’ ability to optimize this cap space will be the defining theme of their 2026 summer.
Injury Notes: MacKinnon, Nichushkin, Smith
The Western Conference Final has taken a turn for the worse for the Colorado Avalanche. After a devastating 5-3 loss in Game 3 on Sunday, the Avalanche find themselves in a 3-0 series hole against the Vegas Golden Knights, with their Stanley Cup aspirations hanging by a thread.
According to Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, there is currently no definitive update on the status of Nathan MacKinnon or Valeri Nichushkin. Both players are dealing with lower-body injuries sustained during Sunday’s contest and are undergoing treatment today. MacKinnon, who leads the team in postseason scoring with 15 points, suffered his injury in the second period after bravely blocking a shot. Despite clearly favoring his leg and receiving limited ice time in the third period, he managed to finish the game. Nichushkin also exited early and saw only 8:34 of ice time. With the season on the brink, Colorado’s coaching staff will likely hold off on any roster decisions until the final pregame media availability on Tuesday.
Conversely, the news coming out of the Vegas camp is far more optimistic. Following a gritty performance in Game 3, head coach John Tortorella provided a reassuring update regarding winger Cole Smith. Smith took a hard hit late in the game that left some observers concerned, but Tortorella confirmed that there is no concern regarding his status moving forward. The Vegas depth has been a massive factor in their comeback series lead, and Smith appears set to remain in the lineup as they look to secure a sweep.
The Avalanche now face a do-or-die scenario in Game 4 at T-Mobile Arena. Whether Colorado can force a fifth game at home on Thursday will depend heavily on the medical reports of their star players and their ability to bounce back from the frustration of blowing a three-goal lead on Sunday night. Puck drop for Game 4 is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET on Tuesday.
Hurricanes Adjustments Ahead of Game 3
With the Eastern Conference Final series tied at one game a piece, the Carolina Hurricanes are expected to maintain several key aspects of their game while tinkering with a few key areas. For the Hurricanes, maintaining an unblemished road record will depend on a few critical tactical and personnel factors highlighted ahead of puck drop.
Penalty Kill
Carolina’s penalty kill is performing at a near-historic level this postseason, killing 23 of 24 opposing power plays (95.5%). As noted by The North State Journal, since 2000, only the 2004 Detroit Red Wings (96%) have put up a better PK percentage over a minimum of 10 playoff games.
Defenseman K’Andre Miller credited the success to “iron sharpening iron,” stating that going up against their own high-end power play units in practice every day keeps them sharp.
Line Matchup War
With the Canadiens holding home-ice advantage, head coach Martin St. Louis gets the luxury of the last change. Montreal will actively try to pull the Nick Suzuki–Cole Caufield–Juraj Slafkovsky top line away from Jordan Staal‘s suffocating checking line. However, while Staal’s line held Montreal’s top trio to just three 5-on-5 shots on goal in Game 2, even if Montreal avoids Staal on home ice, Rod Brind’Amour can still counter by hard-matching his elite shutdown defensive pairing of Jaccob Slavin and Jalen Chatfield against Suzuki’s wingers.
Battling the Bell Centre Noise
While Montreal has gained a reputation as road warriors in the playoffs, the Hurricanes are an absolute juggernaut away from home this postseason, carrying a 4-0 road record into Game 3. Carolina’s only two postseason games with more than three goals scored both happened on the road (in Ottawa and Philadelphia).
Unsung Heroes
Right winger Jackson Blake is completely altering his identity for the postseason. While he has been known primarily for offense, Blake matched his regular-season career-high in blocked shots just 11 minutes into Game 2, finishing the night with 5 blocks.
Despite the adjustments in their tactics, the Hurricanes are keeping an eye on Montreal’s bottom six. Following a costly failed overtime dump-in that led to Nikolaj Ehlers‘ Game 2 winner, morning skate reports indicate Montreal is scratching Oliver Kapanen in favor of the heavier Joe Veleno to counter Carolina’s relentless speed and physical forecheck.
Egor Zamula Expected To Sign In KHL
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Egor Zamula‘s signing rights have been traded in the KHL, according to a report from Jonathan Bailey of The Hockey News. CSKA Moskva has acquired Zamula’s rights from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in exchange for the signing rights to Boston Bruins forward Georgii Merkulov and the equivalent of $420K in rubles. The trade is a strong indication that Zamula intends to take his professional career to the KHL.
It’s not an unexpected outcome for Zamula. The 26-year-old blueliner began the year with the Philadelphia Flyers, but requested a trade from the organization after he was reassigned to the AHL. After being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Zamula was suspended and later released for failing to report to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Eventually, Zamula landed with the Blue Jackets on a prorated one-year, $1MM contract.
All together, Zamula finished the season with three assists in 33 games with a +6 rating, averaging 13:04 of ice time. Given how his time with the Flyers worked out, and his subsequent lack of playing time in Columbus, it’s not a huge surprise that Zamula is leaving North America to pursue a bigger opportunity.
Additionally, if he were to turn his career around in Russia, Zamula is still young enough that he could return to the NHL in a few years without much pushback. Regardless, that’s putting the cart before the horse.
If he does sign with CSKA, it’ll be the first time Zamula has played in Russia since the 2016-17 campaign. That season, he played for the Metallurg Magnitogorsk’s U17 team, registering three goals and 26 points in 36 games.
Offseason Checklist: Detroit Red Wings
The offseason has arrived for half of the league’s teams that aren’t taking part in the playoffs plus those who have already been eliminated. Accordingly, it’s now time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months. Next up is a look at Detroit.
Patience has run out for the Detroit Red Wings. The team’s playoff drought has run into a decade, and there are still more questions than answers. Despite not only being in a playoff position for much of the season but leading the hotly contested Atlantic Division, a third consecutive collapse in March had the Red Wings on the outside looking in for this year’s postseason. The silver lining is that Detroit has oodles of money to spend and one of the deeper prospect pools in the league. Ultimately, it will require Steve Yzerman to bite the bullet, change his typically conservative approach, and make the changes necessary to get this Original Six franchise back into the playoffs.
Acquire Top-Six Center
This has been an issue plaguing the Red Wings and most of the league for some time. They’ve taken shots at it, mostly by signing Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher in back-to-back offseasons. This season, the hope was that Marco Kasper could assume that role after a solid rookie campaign. Unfortunately, Kasper was flat out of the gates and finished with nine goals and 19 points in 81 contests. His poor play since the start of the campaign vaulted Copp back into the top six.
Despite being one of the best faceoff takers in the league, Copp doesn’t have the offensive punch to warrant a spot in the top six. Yes, he finished with the second-highest scoring output of his career, but it mostly came by the way of assists with the benefit of playing on a line with Alex DeBrincat, who finished with 41 goals.
Detroit was heavily linked to Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers and Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues leading up to the deadline, but ultimately didn’t have the appetite to pay the heavy price to address their need. That’s generally a respectable position, given that the General Manager is tasked with managing the team’s assets as well as putting the best team out on the ice. Still, it was a noticeable hole from the jump, and the lack of aggressiveness left many fans, and likely the team, disappointed.
Given the Rangers’ direction, it’s safe to say that Trocheck will again be available for the right price this summer. For Thomas, there’s no indication what direction new General Manager Alex Steen will want to take the team, so it’s no longer a guarantee that he’ll be shopped. As for other options, the Red Wings could take an expensive flyer on Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, go on the cheaper side and target Morgan Frost of the Calgary Flames, or go bold and try to pry Nico Hischier away from the New Jersey Devils, especially if his extension talks stall.
Re-Work Defensive Corps
One of the most peculiar themes from Detroit over the past several years has been the organization’s infatuation with Ben Chiarot. Yes, he’s physical and blocks shots, but he doesn’t have the on-ice awareness to have a meaningful role in the top four of the defensive corps. He hasn’t had an on-ice goals percentage greater than 50.0% since his time with the Winnipeg Jets, and he’s continued to get worse since then. Despite his decline in play, the Red Wings signed Chiarot to an extension, keeping him in HockeyTown through the 2028-29 campaign.
Although they started strong, Albert Johansson and Jacob Bernard-Docker both declined significantly towards the end of the season. Detroit attempted to give its defensive corps a jolt by acquiring Justin Faulk at the deadline, but he wasn’t enough to get them over the finish line. By the end of the season, the Red Wings could really only rely on their top unit of Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson.
Youngster Axel Sandin Pellikka still has a high ceiling, but has some maturing to do, which isn’t atypical for younger defensemen. Throughout the season, it was evident that the Red Wings’ coaching staff lacked trust in him during challenging situations, leading to his demotion to AHL Grand Rapids before the campaign ended.
Detroit hopes that a full season with Faulk next to Sandin Pellikka will be beneficial, especially if it moves Chiarot to a bottom-pairing role. However, if injuries occur, Detroit lacks sufficient reserves. The Red Wings should target a defenseman who will primarily play in the bottom pairing, but wouldn’t look out of place in the top four if needed. They should be able to recruit this on the free agent market this summer, such as Mario Ferraro, Logan Stanley, or Ryan Shea.
Lock Up Edvinsson
One key factor in solidifying the defensive corps is locking down Edvinsson this summer. He’s set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st without arbitration rights, giving Detroit plenty of time to work something out long-term.
Although he hasn’t taken off as immediately as Seider, it’s clear that the two play well together. Now a full-time player, Edvinsson has scored 16 goals and 56 points in 150 games over the past two years, averaging 21:43 of ice time per game. Additionally, he plays into his frame, blocking 292 shots and delivering 180 hits in that time. The pairing of Edvinsson and Seider played the third-most totals of any defensive pairing this year, and they finished with a 54.8% xGoals% in all situations, according to MoneyPuck.
At the very least, the Red Wings should target a five-year contract if not longer. Should they agree to a five-year deal, that would line Edvinsson up with Seider for their contract expirations. As of now, AFP Analytics projects Edvinsson to sign a seven-year, $61.4MM ($8.77MM AAV) on a long-term deal. It’s unlikely that Detroit would be willing to go above Seider’s $8.55MM salary on any new deal, so they would likely play hardball in getting Edvinsson down to an $8MM to $8.5MM range.
Add Depth Scoring
Connected to their need for a second-line center, the Red Wings must add additional scoring, particularly to their bottom-six. In what has become another theme for this team over the last few years, Detroit struggles to produce at even strength, costing them several games. This season, the team finished in 30th place in even-strength goals.
Of those that finished the season in Detroit, the combination of James van Riemsdyk, Michael Rasmussen, Mason Appleton, Compher, and Kasper finished with 47 goals on the season. As mentioned previously, DeBrincat finished with 41 himself.
Fortunately, the Red Wings don’t need to go big-game hunting in this regard. In fact, most of it could come from within. If Detroit can move Rasmussen and Appleton this summer, as well as let van Riemsdyk walk in free agency, the Red Wings could begin adding in some of their prospects to the NHL roster and let their youthful energy take over.
Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire of Imagn Images.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Aku Raty
The Edmonton Oilers have already gotten involved in the overseas market. According to a team announcement, the Oilers have signed Aku Raty to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season worth $850K.
Raty, 24, began his professional career in 2019 when he was selected with the 151st overall pick of that summer’s draft by the Arizona Coyotes. He spent his post-draft season playing for the Finnish Liiga’s Kärpät, scoring two goals and seven points in 32 games with a +2 rating.
After posting a nearly identical scoring line for the 2020-21 campaign, Raty’s offensive presence began to grow in Finland’s professional circuit. Combining the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, Raty registered 29 goals and 64 points in 109 games for Kärpät with a +30 rating. That output rightfully gave the Coyotes the confidence to bring him to North America to test his mettle in the AHL.
At first, he didn’t look out of place. Playing for the Tucson Roadrunners, Raty finished his first season with 15 goals and 44 points in 55 games with a +9 rating. It wasn’t enough to win any awards, but he didn’t finish second on the team in scoring behind Josh Doan.
Unfortunately, Raty took a significant step back during the 2024-25 campaign. He got off to a tough start with the Roadrunners, scoring four goals and 19 points in 50 games, leading to a mid-season trade to the Chicago Blackhawks organization, causing him to finish the year with the Rockford IceHogs.
After that difficult season, Raty took the opportunity to rejoin Kärpät last year, and it turned out to be a worthwhile endeavor. He enjoyed the best season of his professional career, scoring 20 goals and 57 points in 51 games with a +8 rating. Again, his strong offensive output wasn’t enough to lead the league in scoring, but he finished first on the team and seventh overall.
The Oilers frequently adjust their bottom six due to injuries or poor performance, which should create opportunities for Raty at the NHL level, assuming that trend continues. Should Raty get off to a hot start with AHL Bakersfield, if he doesn’t start the season on the NHL roster, the signing could give Edmonton more offensive firepower and energy at the bottom of their forward corps.