{"id":131914,"date":"2022-09-09T14:44:04","date_gmt":"2022-09-09T18:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=131914"},"modified":"2022-09-09T14:44:04","modified_gmt":"2022-09-09T18:44:04","slug":"aatu-raty-islanders-game-changer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2022\/09\/09\/aatu-raty-islanders-game-changer\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Islanders Have Game Changer in Aatu Raty"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NHL season approaches rapidly, and the New York Islanders<\/a> have a similar team entering camp from last season. Not only is the team like last season, but the core of this team has also been unchanged for quite some time.<\/p>\n

Jean-Gabriel Pageau<\/a> was the last Lou Lamoriello acquisition that truly made a significant impact on this team. Pageau was dealt<\/a> from the Ottawa Senators<\/a> at the 2020 Trade Deadline and immediately signed a six-year contract extension<\/a> with the Islanders.<\/p>\n

No one will argue that the Islanders have had success under Lamoriello, but will this truly be a successful tenure for Lamoriello if the team does not win a Stanley Cup? The Islanders have arguably reached their ceiling together. The team has some veterans quickly entering the twilight of their respective careers. The youth on this team has either graduated from prospects or have not produced enough to make an impact.<\/p>\n

Noah Dobson<\/a> is the cream of the crop of young players<\/a> on this roster. At age 22, Dobson is certainly expected to grow after a breakout season where he recorded 51 points. Who else can bring a drastic change to this veteran group to get them to not only the playoffs but over the hump of the Eastern Conference Final?<\/p>\n

Aatu Raty Could Be a Game Changer for the Islanders<\/h2>\n

Raty was drafted by the Islanders in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, 52nd<\/sup> overall. He was seen as a top 10 draft pick by many experts at the beginning of the 2020 hockey season, but a below-average second half of the season led to a substantial drop to the second round The Islanders were not loaded with draft picks but certainly had received some strong value with this second-round selection.<\/p>\n

Raty immediately had the Islanders thankful for making the pick. He went on an offensive tear in the Liiga, recording 40 points in just 41 games after an early-season trade to Jukurit. The talent that made him a potential top 10 draft pick re-surfaced. Raty has been racking up points wherever he has played, including the World Juniors. He was able to make it to the Bridgeport Islanders for a couple of games and the playoffs. Surely this was essential to his growth by playing in North America.<\/p>\n

With that said, Raty is expected to be at the Islanders camp and ultimately begin the season in Bridgeport.
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>