On Wednesday afternoon, the Vancouver Canucks introduced that they’ve signed Braeden Cootes to a three-year entry-level contract (ELC). The 18-year-old middle was drafted fifteenth general by the Canucks within the 2025 NHL Draft.
“Braeden confirmed rather well at our improvement camp, and we’re pleased to get him underneath contract,” said Allvin. “His compete stage and want to be the most effective gamers on the ice at UBC was obvious from the very first day. We appreciated his arduous work and a spotlight to element, and we stay up for serving to him enhance as a hockey participant.”
Cootes is coming off a career-high 26 objectives and 63 factors with the Seattle Thunderbirds, a season the place he co-captained the workforce earlier than Sawyer Mynio was traded to the Calgary Hitmen. He then grew to become the total captain for the remainder of the season. He additionally wore the “C” for Staff Canada on the 2025 U18 World Championship and led them to a gold medal over Sweden. He had a team-leading six objectives and 12 factors, ending as a top-three participant for Canada, whereas posting a tournament-best 71.79 faceoff share.
Whereas it is likely to be too early to count on Cootes to hit his ceiling as a top-six middle proper out of the gate, he may make the Canucks out of coaching camp and, on the very least, play 9 video games after which get despatched again to the Western Hockey League (WHL). It was confirmed by insider Rick Dhaliwal shortly after being chosen fifteenth general that Cootes wouldn’t be becoming a member of an NCAA workforce, however returning to the Thunderbirds if he doesn’t make the NHL roster.
With Cootes signing his ELC, it provides slightly extra intrigue to coaching camp, particularly if the Canucks haven’t addressed their want for a second-line middle by then. He has the play fashion to make it early in his profession, much like Bo Horvat when he performed his first full season within the NHL at 19 years outdated. Cootes could be doing it a yr earlier, however given his work ethic and two-way sport, I wouldn’t put it previous him to shock everybody and play previous the nine-game trial interval.
