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JPat’s Monday Mailbag: Is Braeden Cootes making the Canucks opening night roster?
Jeff Paterson's weekly Vancouver Canucks mailbag.
Jeff Paterson
Sep 29, 2025, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 29, 2025, 11:58 EDT
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Just two games remain in the Vancouver Canucks‘ preseason. All 32 teams have to have their opening night rosters in to the National Hockey League by 2 pm Pacific time next Monday (October 6th). So we’re getting there. Games that matter are just around the corner. The Canucks still have several decisions to make about their roster, but they don’t have to make those just yet. While they ponder the final few cuts, we’re going to answer some of your questions for this week’s mailbag. Let’s get to it. 
He’s doing his best to prove you – and the coaching staff – right. He looked good again on Sunday against the Oilers. He leads the Canucks in preseason goals now with a pair. He competes hard. He makes plays at speed. He was tested physically a couple of times and was able to pick himself up, dust himself off and keep on pushing. I’d expect that we’ll see him get at least one more preseason game to continue to show he belongs. The injury to Nils Höglander probably opens an unforeseen spot on the opening night roster and perhaps Cootes can make the most of that opportunity. He’s certainly put his best foot forward at his first NHL camp and has not looked out of place in any of his preseason outings. 
Not after last night’s game in Edmonton there isn’t. None of the three set themselves apart in any fashion against the Oilers. I thought the trio looked good together in last Wednesday’s win against Calgary in Abbotsford. But really, not one of them has really risen to the challenge through camp and the first week of the preseason in terms of standing out against each other or the competition. There is still time, but there’s no guarantee any or all of them will appear in the two remaining preseason contests. So no it’s not as simple as granting those three line-up spots. All may be able to plug holes in the NHL line-up when called up, but there are still legitimate questions about any of them making significant contributions over a full season at the NHL level. 
I’m going to say Elias Pettersson. That way I give myself two chances to be correct. But let the record show, I’m going with the forward. This isn’t a prediction that he will lead the team in goal scoring over the balance of an 82-game season. But the question was about the first on the team to 20 goals, I’m going with EP40. Of course, for him to score, he needs to shoot. He had three attempts – two on goal – in his lone preseason outing so far against Seattle on Friday. He’s talked about knowing he needs to put more pucks on net this season, so that will be something to monitor in the games he gets into this week.
Those are the only minutes Hughes has played in a game since last April. I think he’ll be okay. Filip Hronek logged 26:13 in Edmonton last night including 10:08 of the third period. A 24-minute night for the captain is like he’s still on summer vacation. By the way, Hughes would have been my first star on Friday. I thought he looked dialled in and was the best skater on the ice. Thoroughbreds need to run. So of course, the Canucks were going to play their best player. They were down to start the third period and any comeback was likely to be spearheaded by Hughes. So there is no reason for concern here. And there is certainly no reason to type his name in all caps. None.
It certainly looks that way on defence. Victor Mancini, Elias Pettersson, Tom Willander and even Kirill Kudryavtsev have all acquitted themselves nicely through camp and the preseason. There is no question the Canucks have developed a crop of blueliners ready – or very nearly ready – to be every night NHL’ers. I still think there are some question marks about the Abbotsford standouts up front as indicated in an earlier answer.
But add Aatu Räty and Jonathan Lekkerimäki to the mix and possibly even Vitali Kravtsov, and it does feel like this team should be able to dip into the farm at any point and bring up any of those forwards that have all had a taste of life in the NHL and have a much better understanding of what is expected of them at this point. I think the effects of the development program showed themselves last year and, of course, Abbotsford’s season ended with a Calder Cup championship and you can’t argue with that. So it’s fair to have expectations that this will be an even better year in terms of contributions from call-ups.
In the short term, no. I don’t expect the Panthers to go out and try to replace their captain right away. That team is stacked at centre and while Barkov’s absence will hurt, Florida still has enough down the middle to remain competitive in the short run. Now, if the Panthers decide at some point they want to seek out additional help down the middle, then add them to an already long list of teams that would like to upgrade at the position.
So in that sense, they’ll be yet another organization placing demands on a commodity that is already in short supply. As the Canucks found out the hard way this summer, the price for solid centres is already sky high. I’m not sure the unfortunate Barkov injury jacks up the rate right now. But over time, it could certainly impact the market. As you know, the Panthers are a team that gets what it wants. If that means driving up prices or getting into a bidding war, I won’t put anything past them.

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