# Aku Räty

Aku Räty (Finnish:) (born 5 July 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey right winger for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Arizona Coyotes selected Räty 151st overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft. On 17 April 2024, he was the last player ever to debut for the Arizona Coyotes.

## Playing career

Räty developed in the Kärpät alongside his brother, Aatu, with both being considered top prospects in the Finnish ranks in their respective NHL draft years. Aku remained on the board through the first four rounds of the 2019 NHL entry draft before the Arizona Coyotes selected him in the fifth round with the 151st overall pick.
After marking marginal impacts in the top-ranked Finnish Liiga with Kärpät in his first three post-draft seasons, Räty transferred to Ilves in 2022 and subsequently enjoyed a breakout year. Räty finished second on the team with 18 goals and fifth with 42 points in 53 games during the 2022–23 Liiga season, helping Ilves qualify for the playoffs as the second seed. He added one goal in 10 playoff games as Ilves were eliminated by the Lahti Pelicans in the Liiga semifinals.
On 3 May 2023, the Coyotes signed Räty to a two-year, entry-level contract to take effect in the 2023–24 NHL season. Räty's exclusive NHL draft signing rights with the Coyotes had been set to expire on 1 June 2023. He made his NHL debut on 17 April, in the Coyotes' final game in Arizona, a 5–2 win over the Edmonton Oilers, during which he recorded a point.
On 7 March 2025, Räty, along with Victor Söderström and Shea Weber, was traded by Utah to the Chicago Blackhawks.

## Personal life

Räty's brother, Aatu, plays for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL).

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2018–19 | Kärpät | Jr. A | 52 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
| 2019–20 | Kärpät | Jr. A | 18 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | Kärpät | Liiga | 32 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Kärpät | Jr. A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Kärpät | Liiga | 36 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | Kärpät | Liiga | 56 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2022–23 | Ilves | Liiga | 53 | 18 | 24 | 42 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2023–24 | Tucson Roadrunners | AHL | 55 | 15 | 29 | 44 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Arizona Coyotes | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024–25 | Tucson Roadrunners | AHL | 50 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Liiga totals | Liiga totals | Liiga totals | 177 | 35 | 43 | 78 | 64 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2017 | Finland | U17 | 6th | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | Finland | HG18 | 7th | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | Finland | U18 | 7th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | Finland | WJC | 4th | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2021 | Finland | WJC | | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 27 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 10 |