Aku Räty

Aku Räty
Born (2001-07-05) 5 July 2001
Oulunsalo, Finland
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Edmonton Oilers
Bakersfield Condors (AHL)
Oulun Kärpät
Ilves
Arizona Coyotes
NHL draft 151st overall, 2019
Arizona Coyotes
Playing career 2019–present

Aku Räty (Finnish: [ˈɑːku ˈræty]) (born 5 July 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right winger for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Arizona Coyotes selected Räty 151st overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft. On 17 April 2024, he was the last player ever to debut for the Coyotes.

Playing career

Räty developed in the Kärpät system alongside his brother, Aatu, with both being considered top prospects in the Finnish ranks in their respective NHL draft years. Aku remained on the board through the first four rounds of the 2019 NHL entry draft before the Arizona Coyotes selected him in the fifth round with the 151st overall pick.

After marking marginal impacts in the top-ranked Finnish Liiga with Oulun Kärpät in his first three post-draft seasons, Räty transferred to Ilves in 2022 and subsequently enjoyed a breakout year. Räty finished second on the team with 18 goals and fifth with 42 points in 53 games during the 2022–23 Liiga season, helping Ilves qualify for the playoffs as the second seed. He added one goal in 10 playoff games as Ilves were eliminated by the Lahti Pelicans in the Liiga semifinals.

On 3 May 2023, the Coyotes signed Räty to a two-year, entry-level contract to take effect in the 2023–24 NHL season.[1] Räty's exclusive NHL draft signing rights with the Coyotes had been set to expire on 1 June 2023.[2] He made his NHL debut on 17 April, in the Coyotes' final game in Arizona, a 5–2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, during which he recorded a point.[3][4] The following day, sale was officially approved with the Arizona Coyotes franchise becoming officially deactivated until further notice and new expansion team, the Utah Hockey Club, taking their place. Räty's rights were transferred from Arizona to Utah accordingly.[5]

On 7 March 2025, Räty, along with Victor Söderström and Shea Weber, was traded by Utah to the Chicago Blackhawks.[6]

On 20 May 2025, Räty returned home to Kärpät, signing a two-year contract with the Liiga.[7]

On 25 May 2026, it was announced that Räty had signed a one-year, two-way contract to return to North America, as part of the Edmonton Oilers organization.[8]

Personal life

Räty's younger brother, Aatu, was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders. He currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2018–19 Kärpät Jr. A 5219264528 113694
2019–20 Kärpät Jr. A 181110216 11010
2019–20 Kärpät Liiga 3225714 —————
2020–21 Kärpät Jr. A 20000 —————
2020–21 Kärpät Liiga 364376 40000
2021–22 Kärpät Liiga 5611112234 71124
2022–23 Ilves Liiga 5318244210 101016
2023–24 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 5515294422 20000
2023–24 Arizona Coyotes NHL 10110 —————
2024–25 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 504151928 —————
2024–25 Rockford IceHogs AHL 1524613 21010
2025–26 Kärpät Liiga 5120375736 —————
Liiga totals 2285580135100 2121310
NHL totals 10110 —————

International

Medal record
Representing  Finland
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place2021 Canada
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2017 Finland U17 6th 50000
2018 Finland HG18 7th 32130
2019 Finland U18 7th 52020
2020 Finland WJC 4th 72132
2021 Finland WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 72138
Junior totals 27831110

References

  1. ↑ "Coyotes Sign Räty to Entry-Level Contract". Arizona Coyotes. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ↑ @CraigSMorgan (3 May 2023). "Congratulations to Brock Nelson and his wife Karley who welcomed their fourth baby during training camp" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 March 2025 – via Twitter.
  3. ↑ Ortiz, Jenna (18 April 2024). "Coyotes give fans a win in final Arizona game, fans show plenty of love". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  4. ↑ Birrenkott, Jaxon (18 April 2024). "Coyotes win final game in Arizona". Northeast Valley News. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  5. ↑ Wyshynski, Greg (15 April 2024). "Everything we know about the Arizona Coyotes moving to Utah – How is the transaction going to work?". ESPN.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024. It's expected that the final transaction will include a clause that allows Meruelo to "reactivate" the franchise as an expansion team – paying what's expected to be a $1 billion expansion fee if that happens – between now and 2029 if his arena project is completed. All of the team's intellectual property – including those iconic Kachina jerseys – would remain with Meruelo. It's an agreement that evokes the deal made with the city of Cleveland when the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1995.
  6. ↑ "RELEASE: Blackhawks Add Aku Raty, Victor Soderstrom and Shea Weber from Utah". NHL.com. 7 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  7. ↑ "Aku Räty Returns Home To Finland". thehockeynews.com. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  8. ↑ "RELEASE: Oilers sign Aku Raty to one-year contract". 25 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
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