It Appears the Vancouver Canucks Have Decided Where Braedon Cootes Will Start the Season
Photo credit: Sportsnet
Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford recently spoke about the possibility of top prospect Braeden Cootes starting the season in the NHL.
Head Coach Adam Foote, his coaching staff and General Manager Patrik Allvin have a lot on their plate over the next week as the club ponders who will and won't be on their opening night roster when they take to the ice for their first game of the 2025-26 season on October 9th.
Going into camp, everyone knew how tough the battle for a position in the bottom-six forward group was going to bebut with an injury to Nils Hoglander, who is out for the next eight-to-ten week, it'll open up an additional roster spot and one person to keep an eye on is 2025 first round pick Braeden Cootes.
Jim Rutherford discusses possibility of having Braeden Cootes on opening night roster
Throughout the preseason, Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes has been very impressive, registering two goals, one of which came on Sunday night against the Edmonton Oilers, along with five shots on goal and a faceoff percentage of 55.6.
"Another game, another goal for 2025 first rounder Braeden Cootes. 👏
He's certainly making quite the case to make this team."
He's certainly making quite the case to make this team."
Cootes earned some praise early on in training camp from Assistant Coach Brett McLean, who said that he's stood out and made a strong impression on the group.
"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.
It's still too early to say whether or not Braeden Cootes will be on Vancouver's opening night roster, but he's certainly making the team's decision harder by the day and another strong showing on Wednesday night against the Calgary Flames could solidify his spot in the NHL to start the 2025-26 campaign.
While making an appearance on 100% Canucks with Ferraro & Shannon, Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford was asked about Braeden Cootes changes of beginning the season in the NHL and he praised the 18-year-old, saying that he was "above the curve" during training camp.
Rutherford wouldn't commit to having Cootes starting the season in the NHL, adding that organization doesn't want to lose any development time in the WHL for the Sherwood Park, Alberta native.
"We don't want to lose any development there. We know we have a very good player, we knew it when we drafted him. His camp has certainly shown he's ahead of the curve." Rutherford said.
If Cootes does end up making the team's opening night roster next week, he'll more than likely get the nine-game trial - which would wrap up on October 25th vs Montreal - before he's sent back to the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 30 | 1719 ANSWERS It Appears the Vancouver Canucks Have Decided Where Braedon Cootes Will Start the Season Do you think Braeden Cootes will earn a spot on the Vancouver Canucks' opening night roster? | ||
| Yes | 1312 | 76.3 % |
| No | 407 | 23.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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