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Vancouver Canucks Staff Left Stunned by What Braeden Cootes Did Before the Season Opener
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images.
The Vancouver Canucks' top brass has been very impressed with 2025 first round pick Braeden Cootes as he earned himself a spot on the opening night roster.
Earlier this week, the Vancouver Canucks announced their opening night roster for the 2025-26 season, which features their first round pick from a little over three months ago, Braeden Cootes, who left a strong impression on his new coaches early on in training camp.
"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." Vancouver Canucks Assistant Coach Brett McLean said.
As Cootes gets ready for his National Hockey League debut on Thursday night, he's drawing plenty of praise from President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford, as well as General Manager Patrik Allvin.
Vancouver Canucks top brass very impressed with Braeden Cootes so far
During an interview with Dan Riccio & Sat Shah on Canucks Central yesterday, Jim Rutherford spoke about the team's decision to include Braeden Cootes on the opening night roster.
Rutherford told the duo that the 18-year-old has absolutely earned his spot on the opening night roster, but it's going to take him a little bit to learn the league.
He went on to add that the Canucks will have to be very careful with his development too, which reading between the lines, probably means that a return to the Western Hockey League's Seattle Thunderbirds is in the cards, potentially as early as late-October, once he gets his nine-game trial.
Rutherford also mentioned that having Cootes perform that well during training camp & preseason, which in turn earned him a spot in the NHL right away, will take a little bit of pressure off of General Manager Patrik Allvin to go out and acquire a centerman.
Meanwhile, Allvin also spoke about Cootes earning a spot on the opening night roster out of camp when meeting with reporters earlier this week.
Allvin lauded Cootes' maturity at such a young age, as well as his skill set, and echoed what everyone else has been saying recently, that the Sherwood Park native has been very impressive.
"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.
Puck drop for Braeden Cootes' National Hockey League debut is set for 7 p.m. PT, with fans able to tune in on Sportsnet Pacific.
Source: Canucks Central
Jim Rutherford on Playoff Aspirations, the Rise of Cootes and Market Challenges
Jim Rutherford on Playoff Aspirations, the Rise of Cootes and Market Challenges
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 9 | 1032 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Staff Left Stunned by What Braeden Cootes Did Before the Season Opener Do you think Braeden Cootes will stick with the Vancouver Canucks all season? | ||
| Yes | 407 | 39.4 % |
| No, he'll be sent back to junior later this month | 625 | 60.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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