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Canucks: Braeden Cootes eager to impress again in second NHL preseason

Photo credit: Daily Faceoff Vancouver

By Lachlan Irvine

Sep 19, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 19, 2026, 09:59 EDT

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PENTICTON, BC — Braeden Cootes was a standout star at his first NHL training camp in the fall of 2025. One year later, at the same rink in Penticton, the 19-year-old is looking for an encore.

In his first preseason in Vancouver, Cootes impressed enough to earn a spot on the Canucks’ opening night roster. He played just three games before returning to the WHL, but Cootes feels last year’s pro experience has set him up well for this season.

“You’re more comfortable, you’re not as shy, you’re a bit more vocal, and you know everyone, so it makes everything easier, “ Cootes said Friday. “First NHL training camp last year, there were a lot of things happening at once, and it was pretty cool, but you get a little nervous. But this time around, [I’m] just trying to treat it as playing hockey, like I have my whole life, and I think it’s helped me and made me more comfortable.”

A different player might see their standout performance in the previous training camp as a burden of expectations. Cootes doesn’t see it that way. “I just try to play my game and be as best as I can out there, but yeah, I obviously want to be better than I was last year.”

Cootes has also had another year to develop in the junior ranks, and the fruits of his labour paid off during a tremendous run of playoff games with the Prince Albert Raiders, where he notched 23 points in 20 games. But the 2025 first-round pick has new leadership to impress this time around.

The men who drafted Cootes 15th overall are gone, as is the head coach who chose him for the opening night roster last October. But Cootes doesn’t feel the need to do anything crazy to shine for new Canucks’ GM Ryan Johnson and head coach Manny Malhotra. “I think they know what type of player I am. I’m not trying to do something or be someone that I’m not. I’m just trying to play my game and be myself,” Cootes said.

“That’s why they drafted me. That’s why I’m here.”

Malhotra already sees the difference another season of growth has afforded Cootes.

“One of the most positive things is you’ve seen the growth over the course of the year. What a difference a year can make for a guy,” Malhotra said Friday. “His ability, obviously, not a big forward, but his ability to win pucks and get into people and get through hands has been quite noticeable the first couple days here. So he’s done a really good job of adapting to the pro game, and he’s shown well.”

Cootes’ greatest skill, however, might be his maturity, and he put it on display when asked about his NHL aspirations. The Sherwood Park kid is willing to be patient. “I’d rather be playing a lot of minutes in [Abbotsford] than not playing at all in Vancouver,” Cootes said about the possibility of making the big club again. “You want to have the highest ceiling possible and be the best player you can when you’re a full-time NHLer.”

“If I’m out there playing and I’m doing good, maybe I have a shot, but I guess time will tell.”

Even with wisdom beyond his years, Cootes still looks to the veterans for advice. He mentioned Brendan Gallagher as someone he’s talked to a lot so far — both players are represented by agent Gerry Johansson — as well as leaders like Brock Boeser and Fil Hronek. But this year’s camp has a different energy than Cootes’ first, and he’s taken notice.

“Everybody’s including everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re an NHL guy or AHLer or in camp to fight, you’re included in everything,” Cootes said. “Everybody’s talking, making sure that you know what you’re doing out there. You’re not kind of hiding in a corner by yourself. So I think it’s been a great experience for everyone, and yeah, I’d say it’s been better this year than last year for sure.”