Vancouver Canucks’ Braeden Cootes Opens up on Team’s Decision to Send Him Back to WHL

Braeden Cootes with the Vancouver Canucks.

Photo credit: Bob Frid – Imagn Images.

Vancouver Canucks top prospect Braeden Cootes spoke with Donnie & Dhali on Thursday about the team’s decision to send him back to the Western Hockey League.The Vancouver Canucks announced earlier this week that after three games in the National Hockey League, they were assigning Braeden Cootes back to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, a move that didn’t come as much of a surprise to some as it was pretty unlikely he was going to stick around for the entire season.

“General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that F Braeden Cootes has been assigned to the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL).” the club said.

“”He’s such a mature kid off and on the ice here. I think he’s level-headed. I think he doesn’t get too far ahead. I believe that he’s preparing himself for just the next day,. I think it’s more load management, matchups, I think those are things that come into the coach’s decision on how to play him there. In terms of skill set and how he fits in with the group, he’s been impressive up to this point,” Allvin said.

Braeden Cootes opens up after Vancouver Canucks send him back to the WHL

On Thursday, Cootes was a guest on Donnie & Dhali where he spoke about his experience at his first NHL training camp, making his debut with the Canucks and being sent back to the Western Hockey League.

While being send down or returned to your junior team might be deflating for a young player, Cootes was in high spirits and believes that this is the best move for him right now, as the team wants him to dominate while playing big minutes for the Thunderbirds.

“I was fine, it’s best for me, the Canucks told me to go to Seattle and dominate and keep getting better.” Cootes said.

While he had a strong training camp and preseason, in his first three games in the NHL, it was easy to tell that Braeden Cootes wasn’t ready and that’s okay, he’s 18, has a long way to go in his development and at the end of the day, going back to the WHL is the right call.

Not only will Cootes have the opportunity to play big minutes and produce a ton in Seattle while wearing the ‘C’ for a second season, he may also get the chance to play for Canada at the World Juniors, depending on how he performs over the next couple of months.

Previously on Canucks Daily

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Vancouver Canucks’ Braeden Cootes Opens up on Team’s Decision to Send Him Back to WHL

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