The Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks have completed a trade that alters the organizational forward depth for both NHL franchises, swapping a proven young center with international and American Hockey League championship pedigree for a pair of promising undrafted college free agents.
At the center of the transaction is forward Aatu Raty, who heads to the Maple Leafs. In exchange, the Canucks receive forwards Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr. The trade gives both front offices an opportunity to address specific developmental goals, with Toronto securing a versatile young forward with NHL experience and Vancouver bolstering its talent pipeline with two fresh collegiate products.
Raty, 23, brings a mix of NHL experience and championship pedigree to Toronto. During the previous NHL season, he suited up in 66 games for the Vancouver Canucks, recording four goals and a total of 14 points. Beyond his contributions at the NHL level, Raty demonstrated his ability to perform on the international stage earlier this year. He represented Finland at the IIHF World Championships, where he played a pivotal role in capturing a gold medal. Over 10 tournament games, Raty contributed four goals and seven points, showcasing his offensive instincts and reliability under pressure.
Originally selected in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders, Raty has steadily worked to establish himself as a dependable professional. Across his career, he has appeared in 118 NHL games split between the Islanders and the Canucks, accumulating 14 goals and 29 points. In addition to his regular-season experience, Raty knows what it takes to win at the minor league level. He captured the Calder Cup in 2025 as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks, contributing three assists in six postseason games to help guide his team to the American Hockey League championship.
The departure of Raty marks a shift for Vancouver, but Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson expressed optimism regarding the return package coming from Toronto.
"We want to thank Aatu for all he has done for the organization, and we wish him well in Toronto," Johnson said in a statement. "By acquiring Jacob and Brandon this move gives our group two new young players to work with as we continue to look for ways to improve our overall depth."
The newest additions to the Canucks organization arrive with strong collegiate backgrounds and recent professional seasoning in the American Hockey League. Jacob Quillan originally joined the Maple Leafs on April 2, 2024, after signing as an undrafted college free agent out of Quinnipiac University. The 24-year-old forward has already experienced a taste of the NHL, appearing in 24 games and recording one goal and three points.
Quillan has also logged significant development time in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. Over 114 career regular-season games for the Marlies, he has compiled an impressive 74 points, demonstrating consistent offensive production. Furthermore, Quillan has proven his mettle when the stakes are highest. He recorded an additional nine points, consisting of three goals and six assists, in 24 career AHL playoff games. His postseason contributions helped propel the Marlies to a Calder Cup championship last season, adding another winner’s pedigree to Vancouver’s incoming return.
Accompanying Quillan to the Canucks organization is Brandon Buhr. Like Quillan, Buhr entered the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent, coming out of Union College before signing a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs on March 16. During the closing stages of the previous season, Buhr gained his first professional exposure by playing five games for the Toronto Marlies on an amateur tryout, during which he registered two assists. The Canucks will now look to evaluate both Quillan and Buhr within their own development system as the players transition to a new environment and vie for roster positions within the organization’s minor league and future NHL plans.