WHL defenceman Kyle Heger answered a question in a way that should appease Vancouver Canucks fans.

When asked what WHL player is the most difficult to play against, he picked Braeden Cootes.

Hard to fault him for that answer, because right now, the Canucks prospect has been one of the best players in the WHL.

Cootes was traded from the lowly Seattle Thunderbirds, a team he captained, to the Prince Albert Raiders last month. Although he had a bit of a slow start as he got acclimatized to his new team, the 15th overall pick in 2025 has found a new gear of late.

The Sherwood Park, Alta., native has led both his team and the entire WHL since Jan. 23 with 17 points in nine games.

Not only that, but he has six goals over that stretch and is currently on a five-game goal-scoring streak.

Some of those goals have been of the highlight variety.

Cootes has been able to score with just tight gaps available, as he did last week against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Shortside snipe😳okay Braeden pic.twitter.com/YjWlcWGTjL

— x – Prince Albert Raiders (@PARaidersHockey) February 8, 2026

And last night against the Regina Pats, he once again scored with little room available. This time, he did so on the backhand.

🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥

You can call him Braeden ‘Backhand’ Cootes from now on. @PARaidersHockey | #WHLHoN | @Canucks | #Canucks pic.twitter.com/GJFaY8F23x

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 11, 2026

Not only is Cootes heating up with his new team, but he’s been doing so largely while lining up on the third line.

Even though he’s not getting typical third-line minutes, his role has been somewhat marginalized compared to his time in Seattle, based on the fact that Prince Albert has a stacked squad.

Because of the new CHL to AHL rules, there’s a good chance that this is Cootes’s last season in the WHL.

Right now, he’s making the most of it.

Cootes, who just turned 19 years old on Monday, has upped his production significantly compared to last season.

After registering 1.05 points-per-game last season, he’s up to 1.42 points-per-game in 2025-26. That ranks ninth overall among all WHL players.

Cootes and the Raiders have 16 games left in the regular season before they push for a WHL title and a birth in the Memorial Cup.