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Canucks trade Räty to Maple Leafs for two players

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Oct 15 2026, 10:08 pm
Canucks trade Räty to Maple Leafs for two players
Bob Frid/Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks have made a surprise trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Hours after centre Aatu Räty cleared waivers, the Canucks traded him to Toronto in exchange for two players, Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr.

“We want to thank Aatu for all he has done for the organization, and we wish him well in Toronto,” said Canucks GM Ryan Johnson. “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.”

Who the Canucks are getting

quillan leafs canucks

Jacob Quillan has 24 games of NHL experience. (Dan Hamilton/Imagn Images)

Quillan, 24, played for the Penticton Vees in the BCHL before spending three years at Quinnipiac University. The Leafs signed the Dartmouth, N.S. native as an undrafted free agent in 2024.

A 6-foot-1, 204-pound centre, Quillan has appeared in 24 NHL games, scoring three points (1-2-3). Quillan posted good numbers in the AHL last season, tallying 36 points (14-22-36) in 40 games with the Toronto Marlies during the regular season, before adding nine points (3-6-9) in 19 playoff games.

Buhr is a Burnaby native who also spent time in the BCHL and NCAA before landing with the Leafs as an undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-2, 204-pound forward signed with Toronto earlier this year.

Buhr led Union College in scoring last season, notching 36 points in 35 games. He has appeared in five AHL games this season, registering two points (0-2-2).

Expect both Quillan and Buhr to report to the Abbotsford Canucks. Both players are on two-way contracts and are exempt from waivers.

No room for Räty

aatu raty faceoffs canucks

Faceoffs are Räty’s calling card. (Bob Frid/Imagn Images)

Räty never appeared to be part of the plan for the Canucks this season. The 23-year-old centre dressed in the first two preseason games, alongside mostly AHL players, before getting into just four regular-season games.

While Räty’s faceoff prowess was undeniable, the rest of his game was lacking in the eyes of the coaching staff. With Filip Chytil returning from injury on Thursday, the Canucks deemed Räty expendable.

Räty, who was originally acquired by the Canucks as part of the Bo Horvat trade with the New York Islanders in 2023, appeared in 106 NHL games with Vancouver, scoring 27 points (12-15-27).

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