Every now and then a young player appears at the camp and lets people stop what they do. Not because he is flashy, not because he is already a finished product, but because you can see something in him. That’s where the Vancouver Canucks Are now with Braeden Cootes.
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Cootes is only 18. The 15th generally prepared this summerSigned with his first NHL contract in July, and he has already succeeded in turning heads, giving fans a fear and bouncing back in a way that shows the kind of character that the organization was looking for. Here are the steps of his development.
Step one: Cootes Place the pen on paper
In July, Cootes officially signed his three -year entry level Deal. Then his NHL story really started. The Canucks signed Cootes because they saw a huge potential. He had just arrived from a 63-point season in 60 games for the Western Hockey League (WHL) Seattle Thunderbirds. He not only put points on he wore the “C” of the captain after he had gotten the role in the mid-season.
The fact that he was the captain of the Thunderbirds tells you what his coaches thought of him and what his teammates saw in him. Then it came U18 world championship. Canada has tied the “C” to him againAnd he led the group to a gold medal and was named one of their top players.
Skill and leadership? Both games together a huge advantage for a young person. But more than that, he is a prospect that competes as if it is every team. That is what we have seen of Cootes this entire season.
Step two: Cootes survived a Rookie camp fear
In September Cootes almost suffered a setback. During the Rookie camp of Canucks, fans were hungry to see this younger up close. Halfway through the match of a prospect against the Kraken in Seattle, Cootes left with an unknown injury. They called it day to day. Out for the rest of the game. Scratched from the next.
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You could almost hear the collective groan in Vancouver. Canucks fans have experienced enough injuries-they don’t need their first rounder to be beaten before the camp even starts. But this time it wasn’t the end of the world. The organization was careful, lasted him and good news came down by September 15. Cootes would be good to go for the main camp. Crisis averted.
Step three: Cootes made his presence felt
This is where it becomes interesting. When the training camp was opened, Cootes did not go alone. He stood out. Not for highlight-reel goals, but for the kind of details that coaches are looking for and reward. He reads the piece. He is backwards as it matters. It remains glued to the video work.
General manager Patrik Allvin even said how impressed he was with how quickly he adapts. The veterans of Canucks have also noticed it. If you see an 18-year-old with confidence, even let the old boys notice it.
Step four: Cootes’ reality control?
So, should the canucks pump the brakes a bit? The cracking of an NHL selection at the age of 18 is a big task, especially in the middle. Vancouver has depth in the middle and NHL Play is relentless about exposing young players who are not completely ready. Cootes still has a lot of work ahead of the speed and grinding of the pro game. That’s not a knock – it’s just the reality.
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More likely he goes back to Seattle for another season of Junior Hockey. For a player like Cootes, who comes from the WHL, the choice is simple at the age of 18: it stays in juniors or jumps directly to the NHL. The American Hockey League (AHL) is not an option until it is older, so every real pro experience this season comes at NHL level or at home at Seattle.
Should prospects always start in the American Hockey League?
The argument “Start him in Juniors” nowadays feels almost automatically. It is the safe, conservative move – let him originate from the spotlights. But that is not always the best path. Sometimes, when a player shows that he is ready, the NHL itself becomes the classroom.
What can he learn there that he will not come back in Junior Hockey? First, the pace. The NHL forces Split-Seconden reads at the very best, and that pressure can sharpen the instincts of a smart player faster than any junior shift. There is also the advantage that there are veterans every day – see how they prepare, repair and wear. These are lessons that you cannot duplicate outside the NHL.
If he stays in the NHL, Quinn Hughes would be someone who could learn Cootes a lot. There is also value in mentorship under the radar. Teddy Blueger, a reliable, smart two -way center, can also take care of Cootes, show him how to compete, anticipate and play the right one night after night.
What is there now?
That’s the real story here. Cootes may not be a Nhler this fall, but he has already planted the seed. If injuries get or if he keeps trending up, this season at some point a call-up is not excluded. For Canucks fans, the most important thing is not the ‘when’. It’s “How.” How he plays. How he leads. How he competes. That is the stuff that lingers.
The Canucks have not always had waves of young talent who make their way. For years the depth card was too predictable and stagnant. Cootes will help to change. He is proof that the Canucks are serious about building a competitive culture and sustainability.
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So no, he will probably not break the camp with the Canucks. But don’t count him out for long. This young person comes back, and when he is, he will matter. Cootes is more than just a concept choice. He is a rising star in the making – and if you are a fan of Canucks, he is one to watch every time he touches the ice.
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