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Top prospect Braeden Cootes Notifies the Vancouver Canucks where he deserves to play
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The Vancouver Canucks are having a miserable season so far, and rather than committing to a rebuild Patrick Allvin and Jim Rutherford are trying to retool their team with young unproven NHL players, but Braeden Cootes, is showing that rebuilding with draft picks is the way to go.
The 18 year old has 21 points in 14 games in the WHL, and he was recently in Victoria showing his skills.
"According to Steve Ewen of The Province, Alan Millar, who is serving as General Manager for Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, was recently scouting Vancouver Canucks top prospect Braeden Cootes, signalling that he's a possibility for their camp roster ahead of next month's tournament."-Jaxon
Braeden Cootes should be number one indicator why the Vancouver Canucks should prioritize draft picks.
M.D posted on X the same feelings many fans share, that the Canucks need to look to drafting their way to success rather the focusing on young NHL players whom other teams are disregarding. Their retooling will simply get them nowehere like it has in years past. Drafting is the only way out of this mess.
He's gonna be a stud.
This is why the #Canucks should be drafting rather than acquiring 23 year olds who teams are ready to give up on.
This is why the #Canucks should be drafting rather than acquiring 23 year olds who teams are ready to give up on.
While Cootes isn't ready for the NHL just yet, he definitely will be in the very near future. And he should be the blueprint for the Canucks in terms of how they dictate their future. Their veterans can easily bring back lots of picks in a trade. Similar to the Chicago Blackhawk method, where yes it takes time, but it's worth it. And this year may be the Blackhawks breakout year led by Connor Bedard who's currently second in scoring.
It will be painful in the beginning but so is this endless cycle of false hope with a refusal to rebuild. At least during a rebuild theres the feeling of real hope in the future, with a bunch of young talent working towards something. The Canucks now feel like there's just no way up or out of their situation. If you can get a good enough prospect at 15th like Cootes, imagine if you can get a couple more in the top 10 this year.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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