Sasson and Karlsson Reflect on Aatu Räty Trade to Toronto

Aatu Räty's departure from the Vancouver Canucks organization has left close friends Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson dealing with the loss of a teammate they developed alongside for several seasons. The two forwards said the move to Toronto could give Räty a better opportunity, while reflecting on their shared success in the American Hockey League and their transition to the NHL.

Räty's role in Vancouver had diminished during the preseason and the opening eight games of the 2026-27 regular season. According to CanucksArmy, he did not play with the main roster in either of his two preseason appearances and was a healthy scratch for four of the first eight regular-season games. He played fewer than 10 minutes in all but one of his appearances.

The three players joined the Canucks organization at different points during the 2022-23 season. They spent most of their time in the AHL before becoming full-time NHL players during the 2025-26 season. Their shared development included winning the Calder Cup with Abbotsford in 2025.

Karlsson described Räty as a close friend and expressed hope that the trade would benefit his career.

"Yeah, I mean, he's a good friend. It's always sad to lose those guys. But I'm hopeful this is gonna help him in the future. I hope this is the best for him, but I mean, as a friend, it sucks for sure," Karlsson said.

The championship run with Abbotsford remained one of Karlsson's favorite memories from their time together. He also recalled sharing dinners with Räty and developing lasting relationships with teammates during their successful AHL campaign.

"We had a couple of dinners together, and of course that Calder Cup run. That's a special memory for sure. I mean, all those guys on that team, you're gonna have a special relationship with. So, I mean, that's probably the best memory: that run we had there in Abbotsford," Karlsson said.

Sasson said the trade affected him emotionally because he and Räty had progressed through the organization together. Their friendship extended beyond hockey, with conversations covering personal interests and life away from the rink.

"Yeah, I was pretty emotional when he got traded, and even thinking about it now. It's probably going to be a better situation for him, but you know, he was one of my best friends in the organization. We came up together, kind of had the same path, grinding together in the AHL, got to the NHL pretty much at the same time.

I sat next to him on the bus every single ride; sat next to him on the plane every single ride; talked for hours among hours about hockey, life, books, movies, whatever it may be. He's an unbelievable guy, and it sucks to see him go. Hopefully, he'll get a good run there.

What I loved about him was, no matter what, he was always himself, and that's such a big compliment to get. He never changed who he was, and we're gonna miss him a lot around here," Sasson said.

Sasson also recalled making his first game appearance alongside Räty and Bainsy. He said their friendship included frequent dinners, a shared interest in saunas and conversations about mindset and performance.

"Off the ice, the countless hours and conversations we had after good games, after bad games. We're both big into like mindset stuff, so we'd always talk about that. And then on the ice, my first game was me, him, and Bainsy.

I'll never forget playing with him in such a special moment, and you know, it's so cool to play alongside your best buddies on the team for your first game. That's something I'll definitely never forget. Obviously the Calder Cup with him was unreal, but besides that, we went to dinner together almost every single time.

Like, he's big into saunas; I'm big into saunas. Like, we'd spend so much time together. My girlfriend and his girlfriend are super close.

Like, ties run deep. It was really, like, I think the first time that I saw, like, oh, this is a business. I mean, you obviously have seen trades and stuff, but someone that you're just so used to leaning on, and him leaning on you, it sucks seeing him go," Sasson said.

One of Räty's lasting contributions to Sasson's routine was a mental preparation technique involving a handwritten percentage. Sasson said Räty had a strong understanding of opposing lineups and encouraged him to focus on confidence before games.

"He could pre-scout any single lineup in the league. He knew every single person and what they do. One thing he told me was that I still do and will do is, he wrote 55% on a piece of tape and taped it in my stall before one of the games, and I ended up going like 7-1 that night, and then he was like, 'See, it's your mindset.

Believe you're gonna win it.' So every game, I'll write 55% and look at it before I go out there," Sasson said.

Räty had recorded two primary assists in his first two games with the Toronto Marlies, according to CanucksArmy. Sasson backed his former teammate's ability to contribute in Toronto, particularly highlighting his effectiveness at faceoffs and his potential to fill a smart, specialized role.

"I think he's going to do a great job in Toronto. I really hope he gets a run because I think he's such a valuable asset to a team with his faceoffs. I think he can play just such a smart role, and when he's on with his faceoffs, and he's got the time to beat the ref, I mean, he can win 15 in a row, like that's how good he is at faceoffs. So we're all rooting for him," Sasson said.

Asked whether he would adopt Räty's distinctive faceoff technique, Sasson acknowledged trying it but said it did not feel natural to him.

"It feels so goofy. But yeah, I mean, I've tried it. I don't know.

It just doesn't feel right to me. But I," Sasson said.