Braeden Cootes talks first Canucks training camp, adjusting to the NHL level, and more

Centring a line between Kiefer Sherwood and Arshdeep Bains meant being able to perform with players firmly in the NHL mix, and Cootes never looked a step behind them. In Saturday’s scrimmage, his line was easily the best of either team. Cootes even had a hand in creating the opening goal, a shot that nearly went in had a defender’s stick not gotten in the way of Sherwood’s passing lane. “The pace was a lot higher than junior, but it was tons of fun. It took a little bit to get used to, but then it just felt like hockey again,” Cootes said.

Cootes credited his linemates for helping him throughout the weekend. Sherwood proved to be a big help navigating camp, but he also mentioned other forwards, including Bains, Elias Pettersson, Jake DeBrusk, and Brock Boeser for being good sounding boards. “They’re awesome guys, always talking to me. It feels like your teammates. They’re not treating me any different. It’s awesome.”

They also proved to be great examples of the player Cootes wants to be. “I honestly think the first day in the meeting, when we just showed up here in Penticton, just seeing the actual NHLers from rookie to here, it’s a big difference,” Cootes said of his first impressions. “How fast the puck moves out there, how fast the game is, how strong they are, how they can make decisions so quickly.”

“It’s just such a higher pace than junior obviously, and it’s a good learning experience to see kind of where you’re at and go from there.”

Where Cootes goes from here could very well be NHL competition. There’s no word yet whether Cootes will open the preseason on Sunday when the Canucks face the Kraken in Seattle, but it’s safe to say he’s earned preseason ice time. If he impresses enough, it might move the needle enough to earn the nine-game regular season tryout before heading back to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.

How NHL-ready Cootes thinks he is might differ from everyone else.