The Vancouver Canucks have signed center Braeden Cootes to a three-year, entry-level contract. Vancouver selected the 18-year-old with the 15th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Cootes is the second Seattle Thunderbirds player that the Canucks have drafted in the first round, joining Petr Nedvěd, who was selected second overall in 1990.
In a press release, GM Patrik Allvin wrote, "Braeden showed really well at our development camp, and we are happy to get him under contract. His compete level and desire to be one of the best players on the ice at UBC was apparent from the very first day. We liked his hard work and attention to detail, and we look forward to helping him improve as a hockey player."
Cootes has spent his entire WHL career with the Thunderbirds. This past season, he served as captain while producing 63 points in 60 games. Cootes was also named captain of Canada at the U18s, where he led the Canadians to a Gold Medal.
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Signing Cootes means that he is now eligible to start the season in the NHL if he earns a spot on the main roster during training camp. If he does make the opening night lineup, he can play in nine games before his entry-level contract kicks in. At this point, the most likely option is that Cootes spends another season with Seattle in the WHL.
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