VANCOUVER — For most players like Aatu Raty, navigating the years-long journey to the National Hockey League is complicated.

There is no one-size-fits-all plan for making it although Raty, at least, has a blueprint. Literally, he has written a blueprint.

Growing up in Finland the son of a hockey coach, the Vancouver Canucks prospect kept a training diary from a young age. It wasn’t so much about what made him happy or sad, but what made him better. And what didn’t.

Now 22 and the top candidate to fill the Canucks’ hole at centre in the bottom six — pending any moves by general manager Patrik Allvin between now and Vancouver’s season-opener on Oct. 9 — Raty continues to keep a journal.

And for this training camp and pre-season, which included Wednesday night’s solid 3-1 win against the

See Full Page