Braeden Cootes

Last updated
Braeden Cootes
Born (2007-02-09) February 9, 2007 (age 18)
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 183 lb (83 kg; 13 st 1 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Vancouver Canucks
Seattle Thunderbirds  (WHL)
NHL draft 15th overall, 2025
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2025present

Braeden Cootes (born February 9, 2007) is a Canadian ice hockey player who is a centre for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) while under contract as a prospect to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). [1] He was drafted fifteenth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2025 NHL entry draft. [2]

Contents

Playing career

Cootes was captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2024–25, the youngest captain in the Western Hockey League, and scored 26 goals and 37 assists in 60 games. [3] It was speculated the Canucks would target Cootes leading up to the 2025 draft. [4] He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks on July 10, 2025. [5]

On October 6, 2025, the Canucks announced that Cootes made their opening night roster. [6] Cootes was the first 18-year old to earn a spot on Vancouver's opening night roster since Petr Nedvěd in 1990. [7] He made his NHL debut on October 9, 2025, in a 5–1 victory over the Calgary Flames, logging 11 minutes and 14 seconds of ice time. [8] After going pointless in three games, he was returned to the Seattle Thunderbirds on October 14, 2025. [9]

International play

Cootes captained Team Canada to a gold medal winning U18 world championship, scoring six goals and 12 points in seven games. [10] [11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2022–23 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL70110
2023–24 Seattle ThunderbirdsWHL6414213516
2024–25 Seattle ThunderbirdsWHL602637631862684
WHL totals1314059993462684

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2024 Canada HG18 Gold medal icon.svg301127

References

  1. Bukala, Jason. "Scout's Analysis: Ranking the top 80 prospects for the 2025 NHL Draft". Sportsnet. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  2. Laskaris, Adam. "Vancouver Canucks select Braeden Cootes at No. 15 in 2025 NHL Draft". Daily Hive Vancouver. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  3. Pronman, Corey. "NHL Draft 2025 ranking: Matthew Schaefer leads Corey Pronman's top 125 prospects list". The Athletic. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  4. Zator, Matthew. "Canucks 2025 NHL Draft Target: Braeden Cootes". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  5. Wagner, Daniel. "Canucks sign first-round draft pick Braeden Cootes". Vancouver Is Awesome. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  6. "VANCOUVER CANUCKS ANNOUNCE 2025.26 OPENING NIGHT ROSTER". Vancouver Canucks. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  7. MacIntyre, Iain. "Cootes headlines impressive youth movement on Canucks' opening-night roster". Sportsnet. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  8. Kuzma, Ben (October 10, 2025). "Canucks Coffee: Braeden Cootes becomes marked man in the rite of NHL passage". The Province. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  9. "Canucks sending Braeden Cootes to WHL, calling up Max Sasson for road trip". Sportsnet. October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  10. Matheson, Jim. "Sherwood Park's Cootes likely going in mid-first round of upcoming NHL Draft". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  11. Svoboda, Jeff. "2025 NHL draft preview: The top 32 players in our annual consensus rankings". NHL. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick
2025
Succeeded by
Incumbent