Potential For Opening Night Roster

Vancouver Canucks Top Prospect Impressing Team’s Coaching Staff: Potential For Opening Night Roster

Photo credit: Vancouver Canucks

One of the Vancouver Canucks’ top prospects has impressed the team’s coaching staff early in training camp and could potentially be in line for an opening night roster spot.

The Vancouver Canucks appeared to hit a home run on the first day of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft after the club selected forward Braeden Cootes with the 15th overall pick in the first round.Up until draft day, it was unclear if the Canucks were even going to use their first round pick, with reports suggesting that they were considering the possibility of moving it for someone who can help the roster right now, such as a second line centerman.As their options to move the pick for immediate help dwindled, the Canucks turned to Braeden Cootes with the 15th overall pick, someone they were keeping a close eye on all year in Seattle (WHL) and so far in his first NHL training camp, he’s impressing the team’s coaching staff.

Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes impressing team’s coaching staff

Despite leaving last Saturday’s Prospects Showcase game with an injury, Braeden Cootes was ready to go for the first day of training camp on Thursday and while he’s more than likely heading back to the Western Hockey League in a couple weeks time, he’s already starting to impress Vancouver’s coaches, including Assistant Coach Brett McLean.

After Friday’s on-ice sessions, McLean met with the media where he spoke about what he’s seen and liked thus far from the Sherwood Park, Alberta native.

“I had the chance to talk to him during one of the drills today and he was just excited, as you’d expect. He also stood out today. He had a really good day. Getting on pucks and he’s obviously smart and creative in some of the drills. So he’s not just out here excited to be here, he’s here to make an impression and he’s done that through the first two days.” McLean said.

Cootes, 18, will more than likely feature in a good chunk of Vancouver’s preseason schedule, which is set to begin tomorrow night in Seattle against the Kraken and if he’s able to prove himself against NHL talent, then perhaps we could see him earn a spot on the Canucks’ opening night roster and get a nine-game trial before being sent back to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.

Previously on CanucksDaily

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