Aatu Räty: Vancouver's Faceoff Wizard

0:00It's April 16th. NHL News today starts now, AI powered and ready for kickoff. A two ready was once hyped as a top draft pick, but he slid to the second round and got traded to the Vancouver Canucks. Now he's not the scoring star everyone expected. Instead, he's turning into a face-off wizard, winning draws at a 61% clip this season. That puts him second all time among players with at least 500 face-offs. He's channeling Manny Malhotra, the old Canucks shutdown king who hit 61.7% in his prime. Reedy scouts opponents like a chess master, even flipping his stick to his weak side to throw them off. For coach, Rick talk it, that's huge in Thai games, especially defensive zone draws that could kill a momentum swing. Fans remember how Malhotra shielded the set in twins by taking tough defensive starts, keeping stars fresh up ice. Please doing the same, jumping on for high pressure face-offs, then hopping off quick. It lets Vancouver's top guys avoid the grind and rack up more offense without wearing down.

1:03His skating's not elite, that's the knock since his finished junior days, but his hockey smarts and strong frame make up for it. He reads play sharp, holds lanes, and has a quick shot for sneaky goals. Last year in Abbotsford, Malhotra coached him directly, polishing that all situations game. From line, Reedy shaping up as a cost effective third line anchor, dominating key moments without needing point totals. For Canucks chasing a cup, that's the glue that wins playoffs, proving depth beats flash every time.