Aku Räty Bio
Aku Räty (born 5 July 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right winger who plays for Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga. Selected 151st overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, he developed through the Kärpät youth system and built his reputation alongside his brother Aatu, a fellow top Finnish prospect. After a breakout campaign with Ilves in the 2022–23 Liiga season, Räty made his NHL debut on 17 April 2024 in the final game the Coyotes ever played in Arizona, a milestone that marked him as the last player to debut for the franchise in its original home.
Early Life and Background
Aku Räty was born on 5 July 2001 in Oulunsalo, a coastal district of Oulu in northern Finland. The region has long produced competitive winter athletes, and hockey remains the dominant youth sport in the area. From an early age, Räty was exposed to organized hockey through local clubs, eventually joining the development pathway of Oulun Kärpät, one of Finland’s most respected junior programs.
Growing up in Oulunsalo placed Räty in a community where hockey is woven into everyday life, with rinks operating throughout the long northern winter. The Kärpät system, based in nearby Oulu, is known for its structured coaching and emphasis on skill development, and it provided the foundation for both Räty brothers to pursue professional careers. Standing 183 cm tall and listed at 80 kg, Räty developed the frame of a modern power winger while progressing through the junior ranks.
Path to Hockey
Räty’s path to professional hockey moved through the Kärpät junior system, where he and his older brother Aatu were both regarded as top Finnish prospects in their respective draft years. The brothers trained side by side during their formative seasons, with Aatu’s progression helping to set a standard within the family. By his late teens, Aku had established himself as a reliable scoring winger at the junior level, which drew the attention of National Hockey League scouts.
Despite his strong reputation in Finnish junior circles, Räty remained on the draft board through the first four rounds of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. In the fifth round, the Arizona Coyotes selected him 151st overall, validating his development within the Kärpät program. The selection marked the official start of his professional career pathway and set the stage for his transition to North American and top European hockey.
Aku Räty Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
After being drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in 2019, Räty returned to Oulun Kärpät to begin his professional career in the Finnish Liiga. Over the next three post-draft seasons, he made marginal but steady progress at the top level of Finnish hockey, adjusting to the pace and physical demands of men’s professional play. His role within Kärpät grew gradually, with management viewing him as a long-term project with offensive upside.
During this developmental phase, Räty gained valuable experience competing against seasoned professionals and represented Finland in junior international events. While his point totals remained modest, his skating, two-way responsibility, and willingness to play along the boards showed the traits scouts had identified at the draft. By the end of the 2021–22 season, Räty was ready for a larger opportunity, and Kärpät agreed to a transfer.
Ilves Breakthrough (2022–2023)
In 2022, Räty transferred to Ilves of the Finnish Liiga, a move that quickly transformed his career trajectory. Paired with experienced linemates, he broke out offensively during the 2022–23 season, finishing second on the team with 18 goals and fifth with 42 points in 53 games. His production helped Ilves qualify for the Liiga playoffs as the second seed, a strong result for the Tampere-based club.
Räty continued his scoring touch into the postseason, registering one goal in 10 playoff games as Ilves pushed into the Liiga semifinals before being eliminated by the Lahti Pelicans. His breakout campaign convinced the Arizona Coyotes to invest in his long-term future. On 3 May 2023, the Coyotes signed Räty to a two-year entry-level contract set to begin with the 2023–24 NHL season, just before his exclusive draft signing rights were set to expire on 1 June 2023.
NHL Debut and Coyotes Era (2023–2024)
Räty joined the Coyotes organization for the 2023–24 NHL season, splitting time between the NHL roster and the team’s American Hockey League affiliates. His opportunities at the top level were limited during the regular season, but a memorable moment arrived on 17 April 2024. That night, Räty made his NHL debut in the Coyotes’ final game in Arizona, a 5–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, and he recorded a point to mark the occasion.
That debut placed Räty in the historical record as the last player ever to debut for the Arizona Coyotes, a unique footnote to the franchise’s relocation. Although his NHL ice time remained modest, the experience provided valuable exposure to the North American game and confirmed his readiness to compete at the highest level.
Utah and Chicago Era (2024–2025)
Following the Coyotes’ relocation to Utah, Räty’s contract carried over to the rebranded franchise. He continued to develop within the organization, working to earn a consistent NHL role. On 7 March 2025, Utah traded Räty, along with defenseman Victor Söderström and the rights to Shea Weber, to the Chicago Blackhawks, giving him a fresh opportunity within another rebuilding NHL organization.
Return to Kärpät (2025–Present)
On 20 May 2025, Räty opted to return home to Finland, signing a two-year contract with Oulun Kärpät of the Liiga. The move brought his North American chapter to a close and reconnected him with the club where he first developed as a young player. With Kärpät, Räty is positioned to take on a featured scoring role while continuing to pursue a potential return to North American hockey in the future.
Driving Style and Strengths
Räty plays a north-south, physical winger’s game, using his 183 cm frame to protect the puck along the boards and drive the net. He is recognized for his quick release and finishing ability around the crease, traits that translated to his 18-goal output with Ilves. Defensively responsible and coachable, he fits the modern Finnish mold of a two-way winger capable of contributing in all three zones.
Notable Events and Milestones
Räty’s most notable career milestone came on 17 April 2024, when he debuted for the Arizona Coyotes in their final Arizona home game, a 5–2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, and recorded a point. That appearance secured his place as the last player to debut for the Coyotes in Arizona, a unique distinction in NHL history. His selection 151st overall in the 2019 NHL Draft and his 18-goal breakout with Ilves in 2022–23 further stand out as defining moments of his career so far.
Aku Räty Career Wins
Across his professional career, Räty has accumulated verifiable wins at the Liiga and NHL levels, with his most significant victories coming during the 2022–23 Ilves playoff run and the Coyotes’ final Arizona home game. While he has not captured a major championship to date, his consistent scoring contributions have produced important team wins in both Finland and North America.
Liiga and NHL Highlights
Räty’s standout team result came during the 2022–23 Liiga season, when his 42 points helped Ilves qualify for the playoffs as the second seed and advance to the semifinals before falling to the Lahti Pelicans. On the NHL stage, his debut win came on 17 April 2024, a 5–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in the Coyotes’ last game in Arizona, where he recorded a point to cap the milestone.
Other Performances
Beyond his headline seasons, Räty has posted steady contributions across junior and Liiga play with Kärpät, gradually building the consistency expected of a top-six winger. His international junior experience with Finland further highlights his development as a competitive two-way forward.
Aku Räty Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Aku Räty comes from a hockey-focused family in Oulunsalo, Finland. His brother, Aatu Räty, is also a professional ice hockey player, currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. The two brothers developed together within the Kärpät system and were both regarded as top Finnish prospects in their respective NHL draft years, a rare achievement for siblings from the same northern Finnish community.
Personal Life
Public details about Räty’s personal life beyond his family and professional hockey career remain limited. Born and raised in Oulunsalo, he maintains close ties to the Oulu region and returned to the area to rejoin Kärpät in 2025. Further personal information has not been publicly disclosed.
2025 Season Performance
Aku Räty’s 2025 calendar year began with the Arizona Coyotes organization and its successor franchise in Utah, where he continued to develop as a depth winger with NHL potential. Limited ice time at the top level eventually led to a significant move on 7 March 2025, when Utah traded him and Victor Söderström to the Chicago Blackhawks in a deal that also involved Shea Weber. The trade provided Räty with a fresh opportunity within another young, rebuilding roster.
Following the trade, Räty did not break through to a full-time NHL role with Chicago, and on 20 May 2025, he signed a two-year contract to return to Oulun Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga. The decision signaled a clear focus on securing top-line minutes, rebuilding confidence, and refining his scoring game in a familiar environment.
Heading into the 2025–26 Liiga season, Räty is expected to feature prominently in Kärpät’s top six and on the power play, where his shot and net-front presence can drive offensive production. The two-year deal offers him a stable platform to pursue consistent point totals and position himself for another opportunity at the NHL level in the future.