The Vancouver Canucks have formalized their commitment to one of their top prospects, signing forward Braeden Cootes to a three-year, entry-level contract. The agreement brings the young player, selected 15th overall in the recent 2025 NHL Entry Draft, one step closer to potentially competing at the highest level.
Cootes, an 18-year-old center, spent the past three seasons developing his game with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL). His performance during the 2024-25 season was particularly noteworthy, where he demonstrated significant offensive ability by tallying 26 goals and adding 37 assists for a total of 63 points in 60 games. This production placed him at the top of the Thunderbirds roster in both assists and points, and tied him for second in goals. Over his 131-game WHL career, all with Seattle, Cootes has accumulated 40 goals and 59 assists.
Beyond his statistical output, Cootes took on a substantial leadership role in Seattle, serving as co-captain starting in November 2024 before assuming the full captaincy in January 2025. Standing five-foot-11 and weighing 183 pounds, he is described as a competitive player with a strong work ethic.
Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin commented on the signing, highlighting Cootes` showing at the team`s development camp. “Braeden showed really well at our development camp, and we are happy to get him under contract,” Allvin stated. “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.”
Hailing from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Cootes has also prominently featured on the international stage representing Canada. His international resume includes participation in the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, a gold medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and most recently, captaining the gold-medal winning squad at the 2025 U18 World Championships. These experiences underscore his ability to perform under pressure and against top competition.
The signing represents a standard procedural step for first-round draft picks and signals the Canucks` intention to integrate Cootes into their developmental pipeline. Fans will now monitor his progress closely as he works towards potentially making the jump to professional hockey.
