Vancouver Canucks Rookie Braeden Cootes Compared to Stanley Cup Champion by Head Coach Adam Foote
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks rookie forward Braeden Cootes was recently compared to a Stanley Cup champion and long-time NHLer by his Head Coach, Adam Foote.
Thursday marked a big night for Vancouver Canucks 2025 first rounder Braeden Cootes as he made his National Hockey League debut just days after he was named to the club's opening night roster.
"Flying skate jersey and no bucket? What a rookie lap for Braeden Cootes 🙌"
The Sherwood Park, Alberta native finished the game with 11:14 time on ice and was a minus-one and with the nerves now out of his system, he can go out there Saturday, in front of family & friends in Edmonton, and enjoy himself.
Vancouver Canucks' Braeden Cootes draws big comparison from Adam Foote
From the moment he arrived in Vancouver for rookie camp in early September, Braeden Cootes hasn't stopped impressing members of the organization, whether it be management, his fellow teammates or the coaching staff, 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.
General Manager Patrik Allvin and President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford have also been very impressed with how Cootes performed in camp and how he's carried himself both on and off the ice.
"He's such a mature kid off and on the ice here. I think he's level-headed. I think he doesn't get too far ahead. I believe that he's preparing himself for just the next day,. I think it's more load management, matchups, I think those are things that come into the coach's decision on how to play him there. In terms of skill set and how he fits in with the group, he's been impressive up to this point," Allvin said.
Earlier this week, Head Coach Adam Foote compared Braeden Cootes to Nashville Predators centerman Ryan O'Reilly - who plays a fierce style of hockey and has grown into a true leader during his 17 seasons and 1,153 games in the NHL.
"He'll let his brain, his body, defend, kind of like [Ryan] O'Reilly defended like that for a long time." Foote said.
He added, "People in Colorado were concerned about [O'Reilly's] feet. And I'm not saying Cootes is slow. I'm saying, giving an example, he defended with his body, his brain, his positioning. And Cootes is pretty smart, where he's been defending as well with getting above pucks, and getting above players."
He added, "People in Colorado were concerned about [O'Reilly's] feet. And I'm not saying Cootes is slow. I'm saying, giving an example, he defended with his body, his brain, his positioning. And Cootes is pretty smart, where he's been defending as well with getting above pucks, and getting above players."
O'Reilly has had a fantastic career up to this point, registering 825 points, is a Stanley Cup champion, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner and on the international stage, is a two-time gold medalist at the IIHF World Championship and in 2016, helped Canada win the World Cup of Hockey.
If Braeden Cootes' career turns out like Ryan O'Reilly's, it's safe to say that the Vancouver Canucks will be very, very happy that they that they selected him 15th overall in this year's Entry Draft.
Source: Daily Hive/Trevor Beggs
Vancouver Canucks coach draws comparison between Cootes and former NHL playoff MVP
Vancouver Canucks coach draws comparison between Cootes and former NHL playoff MVP
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