Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and battling for a role.

At just 18 years old, Braeden Cootes is the youngest skater at Vancouver Canucks training camp in Penticton, but he isn’t just soaking it all in — he’s standing out.

Whether due to drafting trends (college or European players) or simply foregoing high draft picks, it’s been rare for the Canucks to showcase a freshly drafted first-rounder at camp, let alone see them make an impact.

But as a Western Leaguer, Cootes — selected 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft — has had the opportunity to step right in. And over the course of two days, he hasn’t looked out of place.

Slotted into Group A, competing against proven NHL defenders like Marcus Pettersson and Derek Forbort, Cootes has navigated drills with purpose and composure.

His snappy release, smooth edge work, and competitive motor have all been on display, which only reinstates what scouts saw in his draft year and more.

“He had a really good day… getting on pucks, and he’s obviously smart and creative in some of the drills,” said assistant coach Brett McLean after Day 2. “He’s not just excited to be here — he’s here to make an impression. And he’s done that.”

So far, mission accomplished.

With questions looming about long-term centre depth — especially among right-handed options — Cootes enters the system at the perfect time.

While making the NHL out of his first camp is far from guaranteed, he’s doing everything possible to earn extended looks throughout preseason, possibly even skating his way into a nine-game trial.

His pace, maturity, and intelligence have all stood out.

“He knows when to hold back, he knows when to stay level in the unit of three, he knows when to drive, and he knows when to be the scoot guy on the weak side,” said head coach Adam Foote following Day 1’s session. “I saw his brain working, which I liked a lot,”

That ability to process the game, not just react to it, can be rare at this age. It’s that mature skillset that played a significant role in why the Canucks saw top-15 value in him, and the reason why they are rewarding him with an extended look amongst stiff competition.

It’s one thing to stand out among his fellow prospects, but competing against 6-foot-8, tried and true Tyler Myers is a whole different ball game.

Before joining main camp in Penticton, Cootes made his unofficial debut for the Canucks at the 2025 Prospect Showcase in Washington, USA.

He skated on the top line alongside Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Vilmer Alriksson as a focal point player, but was pulled after two periods for precautionary reasons.

While his showing was encouraging, it was brief. According to Foote, not a setting for easy takeaways anyway.

“No disrespect to the rookie game, it’s hard for those guys off summer,” said Foote when asked about the game. “No structure, all different people from all over the world… It’s just a big mess up there.”

In other words, don’t judge the prospect by two periods of low-structure hockey. He’s shown more in two days of NHL-level drills than he could in a disjointed rookie matchup.

Fast forward to day 3 of main camp in Penticton, and Cootes was given the chance to showcase himself in front of the Vancouver faithful, taking part in the annual Blue vs. White scrimmage.

Skating with Arshdeep Bains and Kiefer Sherwood, the trio quickly established itself as one of the most noticeable lines on the ice.

They combined on the first two goals of the game, with Cootes making a key defensive play under pressure from veteran Teddy Blueger that led directly to the opening tally. He looked poised with the puck, stayed tight in his structure, and maintained pace against pro-level opponents.

While intra-squad scrimmages aren’t the most telling of environments, they do offer a glimpse into how a player processes game flow in a semi-structured setting — and once again, Cootes passed the test with confidence.

While the smart money may suggest Cootes will return to junior – where he captains the Seattle Thunderbirds – his early performance has at least introduced the possibility of a longer stay.

The Canucks have a select few players jockeying for selected spots at the bottom half of the roster, but the right-shot centre factor adds a fascinating dynamic to the fight.

Cootes, who brings pace, intelligence, responsible two-way play and of course, a right curved stick, offers something the roster lacks.

Although rare, is it crazy to see an 18-year-old make the team out of camp?

As Harman Dayal of Canucks Conversation pointed out this week, Philadelphia Flyers’ Jett Luchanko — also a 5-foot-11, right-shot centre — offers a similar proof of concept, earning a nine-game role out of his first camp thanks to positional need and his impressive two-way display.

While Cootes still faces a significant and perhaps impossible uphill climb, Cootes has the potential to follow a similar trajectory.

Even if the team opts to send him back to junior, it won’t be because he failed to compete — it’ll be part of a longer-term plan.

Should he return to the WHL, he’ll be leaned on for top line minutes in Seattle and will likely contend for a spot with Team Canada at the World Juniors.

Which is just fine, if not preferred.

The preseason slate begins Sunday, September 21, in Seattle, Washington, and all eyes will be on the early cuts to see how long Cootes hangs around.

He may not be a lock for a regular season role yet, but he’s doing everything right to force the conversation. Watch the full scrum with Cootes below!