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Canucks’ draft options at 15th overall: Braeden Cootes

Originally posted on Canucksarmy | By Dave Hall | Last updated May 20, 2025 9:17 AM ET

We’re just under one month away from the NHL Entry Draft, where the Vancouver Canucks hold their first round pick for the first time since 2023.

For how long? That remains to be seen.

And yet, we continue to push forward as if they will maintain their position and select a young and hopeful prospect with the 15th pick.

With that, we give you our third potential target.

Previous targets:

Braeden Cootes

Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | Age: 18 | Position: Centre | Height: 6-foot | Weight: 183 lbs | Shoots: Right | Birthplace: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

Depending on who you ask, selecting Braeden Cootes with the 15th overall pick could be considered a slight reach.

However, if that’s the case, it isn’t by much.

Today, consensus has him projected somewhere within the 13-25 range. And with a stellar U18 World Championships (six goals and six assists) on his resume, Cootes has all the makings of a player who could outperform expectations on draft day — and for years to come.

Early or not, the Alberta native checks all the right boxes the Canucks could hope for in a prospect. Known for his relentless work ethic, he’s the kind of player who leaves it all on the ice, earning a reputation as a “heart and soul” type with leadership potential written all over him.

This past season, he wore the captain’s “C” for both Team Canada at the U18s and the Seattle Thunderbirds, where he skated as the youngest captain in the WHL at 17 and 18 years old.

He’s a tireless competitor on the ice, providing a real “Energizer Bunny” brand with his non-stop motor. He’s a responsible, all-situations (right-shot) pivot who thrives in all three zones, bringing a pest-like forecheck that wears down opponents.

While he may not deliver bone-crushing hits, his constant pressure and volume of engagement make him a nightmare to play against. He forces defenders to constantly swivel, overthinking each time they skate toward the corners.

Cootes does well at maintaining body position, frequently rubbing defenders off the puck to gain possession, and once the puck is on his stick, he can make magic happen.

He has a knack for making plays in tight spaces and off the rush, often reminding us of Abbotsford Canucks’ Max Sasson when he gets going up the ice. With his head always up, scanning the ice, Cootes becomes a one-man zone-entry machine, weaving through defence like pylons both on the rush and inside the zone.

Once in the zone, he uses a combination of quick hands and IQ to burn through defenders. Given his ability to dig, he often comes out on top in board battles, working quickly to thread the pass or drive the net.

He carries a quick and potent release, especially when given the time and space. It’s not typical to see a blasted one-timer, but he makes goalies pay with pinpoint wrist shots from the top of the circles when gifted with time and space.

Cootes narrowly fired over a point-per-game in his draft-eligible season, contributing just 63 points over 60 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Yet, skating on a team in the bottom-six for goals scored, it’s an impressive number considering the circumstances.

His never-quit attitude makes up for his lack of raw physical strength — while he’s listed at 183 lbs, he plays more competitively than tough. In clutch moments, whether it’s a critical defensive shutdown shift or a late-game push for a tying goal, Cootes is the player you want on the ice.

Defensively, he is a coach’s dream. He led the Thunderbirds with 87 blocked shots and posted a 51% faceoff win rate over more than 1,000 draws this season. He also averaged nearly three minutes per game on the penalty kill, often serving as Seattle’s go-to forward in those high-stakes situations.

While not a burner, he can change speeds effectively, using his slipperiness to gain inside position and drive the net. His skating mechanics could use some refinement, but his hockey IQ and understanding of the game more than compensate for any lack of elite speed.

If you’ve been keeping up with our target list, you may notice a specific theme for this draft cycle, and Cootes fits the mould perfectly: a relentless worker with a high floor and the potential to grow into a difference-maker.

While his offensive ceiling might not reach the level of his top-six forward pedigree, the tools are there for him to reach that level with the proper development.

At worst, he projects as a dependable middle-six centre who can contribute in all situations, kill penalties, win key faceoffs, and lead by example with his grit and determination.

This article first appeared on Canucksarmy and was syndicated with permission.

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