‘We owe it to Braeden’: Canucks GM Allvin on Cootes cracking NHL roster

It’s a day after the NHL roster deadline, and the 18-year-old Braeden Cootes is still on the Vancouver Canucks roster.

On Tuesday, Cootes skated in between Evander Kane and Jonathan Lekkerimäki at Canucks practice. After the session, Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin met with the media following practice to discuss what he’s seen from the youngster to this point in order for him to earn a spot on this roster:

“I think we owe it to Braeden, obviously, he earned his way to be here today and [it’s] looking like he’s playing on Thursday, but I think we’ve got to be a little bit careful here and evaluate as we go along. No difference from what we have done since he earned his first game in Seattle and continued to earn another day. So he’s young, but he’s playing a very, very mature game, so we’ll see here as we move along.”

Cootes’ standout performance at training camp was enough for the Canucks brass to give him a shot in a preseason game. His play continued to impress as the preseason progressed, proving to his coaches that he deserved another game. Well, now all there is in front of him are regular season contests, but Allvin knows the real battle to see if Cootes can fit starts in Game 1 of the regular season:

“Thursday’s the real test. We know that it’s different from the preseason, but he’s such a mature kid off and on the ice. I think he’s level-headed; I think he doesn’t get too far ahead; I believe he’s preparing himself for the next day. It’s more about load management, [and] matchups. Those are the things that come into the coach’s decision in how to play him. In terms of skill set and how he fits in with the group, he’s been impressive up to this point.”

The battle of an 82-game season with this much travel is a lot to ask of an 18-year-old. It was reported earlier today that the Canucks are continuing their search in the centre market as they enter the NHL season. So, while Cootes has impressed, it appears the Canucks might have other plans for where he will end the season – in Seattle of the WHL to further his development.

Cootes is projected to make his NHL debut in front of Canucks fans in Rogers Arena on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Oddly enough, the right-shot centre did not face the Flames this preseason, as he suited up in both meetings against the Seattle Kraken and Edmonton Oilers.