Photo credit: Steven Ellis – The Nation Network.
Vancouver Canucks top prospect Braeden Cootes could reportedly be on the move from his club upon his return from the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.
Seattle’s season hasn’t gone as they were hoping, with the club sitting 11th out of 12 teams in the WHL’s Western Conference with a 14-14-2-2 record and with the league’s trade deadline set for Thursday, January 8th, it looks like the Canucks’ top prospect might be among those dealt within the next nine days.
Vancouver Canucks top prospect Braeden Cootes could reportedly be traded
While it’s not a foregone conclusion at this point, mainly because of how tight the Western Conference standings are, with Seattle just six points back of fourth place, NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal shared some information about the potential of a Braeden Cootes trade.
According to Dhaliwal, sources from the Western Hockey League have told him that the expectation is Braeden Cootes will be traded by the Seattle Thunderbirds and that the return will be massive.
“Canucks prospect F Gabriel Chiarot was traded to Kitchener for eight draft picks today in the OHL.
WHL sources tell me that the expectation is that Seattle will trade Braeden Cootes and get a huge haul back.
The ask will be high.” Dhaliwal said on X.
“La Forge also agreed that trading Cootes would bring back a handsome return. The Kelowna Rockets dealt winger Andrew Cristall to the Spokane Chiefs at last season’s deadline in exchange for forward Hayden Paupanekis, two first-round picks, a second, a third and a sixth, and La Forge maintained that a Cootes trade could bring ‘something like that.'” Ewen said.
Before leaving for Canada’s World Junior camp earlier this month, the Sherwood Park, Alberta native registered 23 points (ten goals, 13 assists), two penalty minutes and is a plus-three in 17 games with the Thunderbirds.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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Vancouver Canucks top prospect Braeden Cootes reportedly to be traded while attending the World Juniors
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