If Ryan O’Reilly can do it, Braeden Cootes can do it too.

If Ryan O’Reilly can do it, Braeden Cootes can do it too.

To my fellow Vancouver Conucks fans, my name’s The following is a hockey podcast out of Vancouver and sorry, British Columbia. It’ll only consist of a lot of puck talk and even more BS or in actual words, banter and satire. Enjoy and as always, go Canucks go. [Music] You’re Locked on Conucks, your daily podcast on the Vancouver Conucks, part of the Locked On Network. Your team every day. Coming to you from a couple guys who are almost twice as old as Braden Coots. It’s Trevor Begs. It’s Kyle Bound and you’re listening to Locked on Canucks. Uh and Kyle, man, oh man, Braden Coots keeps tearing it up throughout preseason hockey. And look, I went on the record. I said, you know, don’t don’t rush this guy to the NHL if he’s not ready. But Kyle, for a multitude of reasons, I’m starting to come around on this. And you know, man, oh man, you you started getting me hyped to think about, you know, another guy who was not a top overall pick or not even a top 10 pick, but still ended up doing it as an 18-year-old and has gone on to have a pretty damn good NHL career. Kyle, tell me, could Brain Cooch be like just like this guy that you’re thinking of? Dude, he wasn’t even a top 10 pick. He was a He was not even a top 30 pick. Ryan O’Reilly drafted 33rd overall in 2009. Uh, but makes an immediate impression on a team that didn’t have a lot of center center help. I’m sorry. And that’s that’s key here, man. And I think a lot of us aren’t talking about how Atu is taking a step back and how the Conucks desperately need to win games early on this season to help them, you know, find that thing called momentum throughout the season. And uh boom, bam, do the math. This team needs Braden Coots, aka they need a player who’s, you know, mature, wise, a pro, practices hard. I mean, if you look at some of the quotes surrounding Ryan O’Reilly in the past, whether it be from like a JS Chagar when he was like 20 years old or just even uh I think Tyson Barry, actually, you should you should talk to Tyson Barry about this. him and Barry were drafted in the same year, Barry being a third round pick and O’Reilly being a second round pick, but uh Tyson Barry was talking about how, you know, the older players on the Avalanche. I guess they were at training camp together in 2009, uh they just gravitated towards Ryan O’Reilly, you know, because of his practice habits, his his professionalism, his obvious skill, his two-way ability, and his work ethic. And you know, you look at uh a guy like Kefir Sher Sherwood and how he talked so highly of uh uh uh Braden Coots a couple nights ago. It didn’t seem like he was giving cliche answers. Like there was a bit of energy in his answers, right? And all in all, I just feel as if based on circumstance, based on positional need, and I know people are scared of this, but maybe Braden Coots can handle the pressure. Uh there’s a good there’s a there’s a good chance, not even just a small chance, that not only does Coots make this team, but he makes somewhat of an impact. Now, some people may think that 27 points, 30 points in 80 games is not good enough, but based on Coots being a good two-way talent, he could be giving us, you know, work rate that this team needs, uh, still net positive uh, outcomes, not just based around offense that again, this team needs cuz again, this team doesn’t have a lot of help down the middle, Trevor. And Ryan O’Reilly, he did it early on in his career. Uh, Braden Coups can do the same thing. Let’s believe just a little, Kyle. I am starting to believe more and more, right? And again, it’s it’s just not every day that you see, especially in Vancouver, you know, an 18-year-old kid who was drafted outside of the top 10 make the NHL team. Now, I will say it does feel like it’s happening with a bit more regularity over the past couple of seasons, and maybe it’s now just Vancouver’s turn, but Kyle, even looking at the last five drafts here, it’s uh you did have Jet Luchenko last year who makes makes the Flyers out of camp, only played four games. One of those actually being in Vancouver against the Canucks. You also had Zack Benson, of course, drafted after Tom Milander in 2023. Already has two full seasons under his belt. Of course, a winger, but that same kind of tenacious dog in a bone mentality that Braden Coots is showing. Um, and then you had Cole Cinger as well. And I almost think Cole Cinger might be more of a cautionary tale, right? Like could Cole Cinger have benefited from being in the minors a bit longer? probably because he’s kind of been the same player since he came in the NHL as an 18-year-old. So again, some cautionary tales there, but it does seem to be happen happening more often with, you know, these 18-year-old kids. It is a younger man’s game. Um, still not common, of course. Hasn’t really happened in Vancouver ever, except well, maybe it’s just Trevor Lyndon, I guess, right? So, uh, Trevor here, Trevor, we got to add this, too. You know, maybe it worked out for Ryan O’Reilly and not like some of the other guys because Ryan O’Reilly, even though Colorado sucked in 2009, again, like they needed Duchain and O’Reilly to make the team is 18 year olds down the middle, like desperately, you know. All in all though, Ryan O’Reilly was around uh, you know, a couple good leaders. Milan Haduk, again, I talked about JS Shagar a couple years later talking about how this guy’s the last guy off the ice, always practicing the hardest, always staying lit at the rank, just a hockey nerd. And also again in ’09 when O’Reilly was a rookie, who was there with him? Adam Foot. So again, when when and Adam Foot’s a like again like a Hall of Fame champion level coach like did was Cole Cinger around a lot of champions when he was 18 years old making the team, right? How about this Jet Lechenko guy? Like those little details do matter. They do. And not only does Ryan uh sorry, Braden Coots have Adam Foot, like he has Quinn Hughes, too. Like you would think that a guy like Braden Coots based on his mannerisms is such a hockey nerd, a hockey enthusiast, and would just want to absorb everything that that guy is doing. Uh which makes me want to say this again. Like I’m starting to realize why they have to get JT Miller out of that room. No, for real. The young the young guys just need one person to look up to. And like there’s different versions of an alpha. Like there’s Andrew Tates. Like people like to think that guy’s an alpha. I’m not saying JT Miller’s Andrew. I’m just saying like Everyone should just look up to Quinn Hughes when it comes to how to do your business as an NHL player and Coots has a good environment. He really does. So th this couldn’t work out. Now Trevor, you you’ve been you’ve been in the rank and maybe we’ll keep this episode super short. You know, games in a couple hours. It’s a Sunday and and just to make complete sense of the situation and you know kind of ride the coattails off this crazy prediction that oh Braden Coots could do this this year. Okay. I don’t know. G give us give us your confidence in his again his mannerisms right like his energy his aura like I know this is the first time you’re like a full-time Big Jay Jouro in the training camp but you’ve been in the room like over the last couple of years in a part-time basis. like does he give you different vibes than other young players whether they’re 18 or not? Yeah, I’m trying to think of the 18-year-olds I’ve seen around the ring, but some of the young guys, too. Like another young guy who really stood out to me last year was Elias Patterson, DPD. Um, very articulate, very good guy to talk to. Like he he seems like a guy who can, you know, handle the noise is maybe the wrong term, but can handle the media and can give good answers and, you know, show some maturity. And I think Brain Cruz does that for sure. And you know, I I saw a comment about like, oh, we don’t want Coots to become the next Canon for Tannon and and yeah, you absolutely don’t want that. Um, but just from hearing stories about those guys, we obviously know a lot about Jake Foran now. Like Braden Coots has a much better head on his shoulders at the same age compared to Vertan and Macan, despite those two having some skill as well. Um, but I do think he’s got the mentality to handle it, right? Um, he’s he’s confident without being cocky. Um, I think he he knows that he has to keep putting the work in that that whole you’ve seen at training camp and at practices, right? One of those like last guys on the ice mentality. Um, so and again I think we talked about it before, Kyle, like the the main thing is his size is holding him back. But other than that, the right shot center, he can pass, he can get the puck out of his own zone, he can shoot. Again, he’s been playing some water down competition. Let’s see how it looks in the last three games of the preseason here. But he’s shown like he can handle it right now. Um, and again, I was I’ve been very hesitant about letting him have that role. uh or being comfortable with him being in that role, but he’s earning it with each passing day and each passing game right now. Now, Kyle, one other thing that’s interesting, too, is like just looking at Ryan O’Reilly stats, like very similar to Braden Coots, right? Um you know, both guys on their Oel teams were pretty much hovering on that point a game mark in the playoffs the same thing with more uh with more assists than goals. Um and again, Ryan O’Reilly comes in first season 26 points in 81 games. Second season, 26 points in 74 games. then finally breaks out in year three with the Avalanche. 55 points in 81 games and hasn’t looked back since. Um I’m I’m loving the Rhino Riley comparison cuz they’re both, you know, Rhino Ry’s a little bit taller but about the same weight uh as Braden Cruz is right now when he was that age. Man oh man, Braden Cusa, next Riley, Kyle Bowen. Oh, that West Coast bi you’re smoking. It’s uh it’s but there’s there’s there’s something based in reality there for me. Yeah, there’s something there’s a little there. And and and again, we’re going to make this episode quick, so get your comments in quickly because I I want to bring up this point, too. You know, a lot of us, you know, media pundits, we go we go to Club 16 Fitness for 45 minutes a day or four times a week or Trevor does P90X three times a week and we think we’re like fitness gurus and we know everything. And it’s like uh you keep hearing this uh oh my god uh what if uh what if Braden Coots gets tired? What if Braden Coots can’t handle the travel? It’s going to wreck his development. Oh, oh my god. Braden Coots needs more time in the gym. Having him do this is going to be detrimental. Look at Jared Macan. Boom. Bam. Do the M. Dude, if guys like uh you know if first overall pick, second overall picks, like uh who who’s the guy for the Islanders uh this year? Uh first overall pick. Yeah, guys. A stud next Kale Marzel calling him one of the best defenseman in the game eventually. Right. I’m paraphrasing, but that’s that’s where I’m going with it. Yo, if guys like that are, you know, given the green light and having no doubt that they could fulfill like this 80 game uh uh regimen, like maybe Braden Coots can do it too. And I I think we should have a little bit of confidence in that considering that everyone’s bragging about this guy’s practice habits. Yeah, 100%. And and let’s touch on the other, you know, the real reason why he might make it. Just quickly K before we get out of here and Cooch has been fantastic, but we all know the center dip hasn’t been good. But the guy in particular that hasn’t stood out has been Au Ratu, right? Braden Cooz has just been better than him straight up. He’s been a better skater. He’s been a better playmaker. Not to say Ratu’s been bad at camp, but you could tell that the injury, I think, has slowed him down, right? He’s not looking a step quicker. He’s, you know, taken holding penalties in the preseason. Um just hasn’t been as clean with the puck as Braden Coots now. Ratchu is still a young guy. again, didn’t get the training in, but this is a guy who we’re thinking like, can this guy make a jump and be a 3C? And right now, an 18-year-old kid looks better than him, right? So, you know, I’m still believing in Atu Ratu, but you know, I don’t know if we’re having this conversation uh as bullishly, if that’s a word. Uh if Atu Ratu is having a crazy camp right now, we’re not. We’re not. That That’s the obvious. And that may scare people from agreeing with what we’re trying to say on this episode cuz I’m trying to I’m trying to think about the mantra the cliche here, but it’s like, okay, you guys are only saying all this cuz the Canucks suck down the middle after Filipedal. Like it was supposed to be Ratty and Bler and you’re supposed to be a little competent, but right now it’s just Bluger and now you want to throw Coots into the mix because you guys didn’t do your due diligence and either sign Rosavic or you know what, whatever it is. is like that’s kind of crazy. Like are you willing to risk um Coot’s development for that? And it’s like yeah, I am. I am willing to risk that because this season matters. This season matters. And if Coots is the best option, like I know this sounds crazy, but based on how they want to play, whether it be like 12 minutes a game for him or 14 or 15, like if he’s even a better option down the middle than Jack Rosavic right now, so be it. Let him play. I know it sounds crazy. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m just talking about the two-way ability. I’m talking about the hustle, what he brings, like his connection with foot, uh some of the chemistry he already has. Again, so be it. So be it. The team needs to win games early on. And if right now, like I think it’s it’s kind of scary, but they probably have a better chance to win games with Braden Coots playing down the middle than Ratu Ratu. I that that leads me to this point and we’ll end on this note. Like Trevor, do we live in a world where this team keeps Coots around in October just to give Atu Ratu, who can’t go down to the miners cuz he’s he’s waiver eligible. Like, do they keep Coots around for nine games a month just so they give Atu Ratu an extra month to get ready for the season? Maybe. That’s some good strategy. Why not? Yeah, it makes sense, right? because you know the land game edition is basically a free look for lack of a better term, right? Brain Cous makes his NHL money. Yeah, you don’t hate that if you’re uh the Vancouver Conseratu kind of looks like he needs it right now. So, uh the Braden Coots hype train, you know, we got three preseason games to go, including tonight against the Oilers. Kyle, thanks for setting this up, man. I mean, you got me hyped last night when you called me saying Braden Cooch is going to be the next Ryan O’Reilly. Um and again, I think there’s something there. Braden Cooch just might be that special guy. And yeah, let’s go to the last comment to Matt Freezen. Let’s not forget that Cous is the only rookie to ever beat the Sadines and the gross grind. I know he had a 10-minute start, but he was still the only guy to beat them. He has the motor, the drive, and the step up, and he can elevate his game when needed. I’m all in on coochie coochie goo. Bro, not only did Coots beat Henrik and Daniel in the grouch grind, I know he had the 10-minute handicap and whatnot. Look at the film, okay? Look at how he finished that race. Like, this kid’s 18 years old, quote unquote, racing against Henrik and Daniel. They get to the top. Did you see how he finished it? He could have let Henrik or Daniel, whoever, whatever twin it was, just get to the top because they were all close together. What did this guy do in the last literal three meters of that race? 2 meters of that race. Go watch the film. He turned on the Jets to be number one. Like that’s his competitive nature. I know. I’m looking at the little details cuz I’m a hockey nerd and I’m a Braden Coots fan and I’m telling you right now that for lack of a better term turned on Henrik and Daniel Sadine. Like they’re probably like, “Who the is this guy? Who the hell is Braden Coots? And look at what he’s done this season. And back in August when Thomas Dance wrote that article about like what the Conucks are going to do down the middle. Like maybe he heard something in August with some of the members of Kucks management or Henrik and Daniel in regards to their expectations for Braden Coots cuz he wrote that yo the Canucks could just you know keep Braden Coots here and if that’s the case and if he does does turn out I know last year was a complete mess but maybe this is the karma that we got as Canucks fans. Like maybe Braden Coots drafted 15th overall was more like a top three pick, a top five pick for real. Straight up. I’m looking at the details. I’m looking at the professionalism. I’m looking at Keer Sherwood’s energy and his the way he answered that question. I’m looking at what Trevor Begs, this guy’s not this guy’s a dad, you know, doesn’t have a lot of bias. The way you’ve been talking about Braden Coots, I’m like, yo, maybe this guy’s just a man amongst not boys, but just an 18-year-old man. You know what I’m saying? Mhm. There we go, man. An 18-year-old man. I’m still even on a man now at 22 or 32, so you don’t even know my own age. Um, so yeah, Braden Coots, uh, the hype train, it’s building, baby. Kyle Bow and Trevor Begs, we got you covered here for everything Vancouver Conucks. Canucks play tonight. Kyle and I will be back tomorrow. Tonight? Definitely tomorrow though. You listen locks again. If you like the show, subscribe, like, share with a friend. Boom. Bam. And have a great effing day. Peace. [Music] You’re Locked On Conucks, your daily podcast on the Vancouver Conucks, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day.

Could Braeden Cootes become the Vancouver Canucks’ version of Ryan O’Reilly in 2009?

Back in ‘09, O’Reilly shocked the hockey world by making the Colorado Avalanche roster at 18 years old as a second-round pick. He wasn’t flashy, but he played a responsible 200-foot game, filled a desperate need at centre, and earned the respect of veterans with his work ethic and maturity.

That rookie season, O’Reilly put up 26 points while playing tough matchups — a feat that helped stabilize Colorado’s lineup.

Fast forward to 2025, and the Canucks find themselves in a similar spot. Depth down the middle remains one of the franchise’s biggest question marks, and Cootes, at just 18, has already shown the poise, compete level, and hockey IQ that screams “NHL-ready.” His camp performance has turned heads, and like O’Reilly, his skillset isn’t built on flash but on reliability, smarts, and consistency.

For Vancouver, this could be the story of necessity meeting opportunity. Just as Colorado needed O’Reilly to step in and play above his age, the Canucks may find themselves leaning on Cootes earlier than expected. If he delivers, the ripple effect could change the balance of their roster — and maybe even the trajectory of this team’s season.

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