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Vancouver Canucks Appear to Have Confirmed Where Braeden Cootes Will Start the Season
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images.
The Vancouver Canucks have made a pretty big decision with their top forward prospect, Braeden Cootes, ahead of the NHL's opening night roster submission deadline.
As we get closer to the start of the 2025-26 season, the Vancouver Canucks have been thinking long and hard about final decisions they were going to make when it comes to their opening night roster.
2025 first round pick Braeden Cootes' play throughout the preseason has made that decision even tougher for the Vancouver Canucks brass and has impressed a lot of poeple in the organization early on, including Assistant Coach Brett McLean.
"I had the chance to talk to him during one of the drills today and he was just excited, as you'd expect. He also stood out today. He had a really good day. Getting on pucks and he's obviously smart and creative in some of the drills. So he's not just out here excited to be here, he's here to make an impression and he's done that through the first two days." McLean said.
Vancouver Canucks make big decision with top forward prospect Braeden Cootes
After making final cuts to their training camp roster on Sunday afternoon, it looks like Braeden Cootes has earned his way onto the Vancouver Canucks' opening night roster and will begin the season in the National Hockey League.
"That's good news for youngsters like Braeden Cootes and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who are still on the NHL roster. Same goes for bubble forwards like Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, and Aatu Räty, who each need waivers to be sent to Abbotsford, but are still in Vancouver." Rob Williams of Daily Hive said.
He added, "Cootes was the surprise of training camp. Not many picked the 18-year-old rookie to make the team at such a young age, but the 2025 first-rounder earned a spot."
He added, "Cootes was the surprise of training camp. Not many picked the 18-year-old rookie to make the team at such a young age, but the 2025 first-rounder earned a spot."
If Cootes is officially named to Vancouver's opening night roster on Monday afternoon and suits up on Thursday night against the Calgary Flames then he'll become the first 18-year-old to appear in a regular season game since Petr Nedved in 1990, according to Harsunder Singh Hunjan of Nucks Misconduct.
"Interesting tidbit: If Cootes makes the team this year, he'll be the first 18-year-old to play a regular season game for the #Canucks since...
Petr Nedved in 1990 👀" Singh Hunjan said on X.
Petr Nedved in 1990 👀" Singh Hunjan said on X.
Despite his impressive training camp, Cootes' time in the National Hockey League this season might not last too long, as the Sherwood Park, Alberta native will likely get the nine-game trial, not burn a year of his entry-level contract and return to Seattle of the Western Hockey League, where he'll wear the 'C' on his chest, once again.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 5 | 1366 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Appear to Have Confirmed Where Braeden Cootes Will Start the Season Are you surprised Braeden Cootes made the Vancouver Canucks' opening night roster? | ||
| Yes | 560 | 41 % |
| No | 806 | 59 % |
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