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Canucks: How are the 14 players drafted ahead of Braeden Cootes doing in their NHL preseasons?
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Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Tyson Cole
Oct 2, 2025, 13:30 EDTUpdated: Oct 2, 2025, 18:09 EDT
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All the talk around the Vancouver Canucks this training camp and preseason has been the standout performance from 2025 first-round pick Braeden Cootes.
The 18-year-old has very much looked the part of an NHL-calibre player. His smooth skating, poise with the puck in the defensive zone and hockey IQ are certainly making it difficult for the coaches to tell him he didn’t do enough to get a cup of coffee in the NHL this year.
While he’s dominating the conversation in Canucks land right now, he wasn’t the hot topic around the NHL in June at the draft, as 14 players were drafted ahead of Cootes.
Let’s do a quick check around the league and see how the 14 prospects selected ahead of Cootes are doing this preseason:
1. New York Islanders – Matthew Schaefer (D)
The first-overall pick last year has appeared in three preseason games, logging heavy minutes for the Islanders. He has averaged 23:04 minutes of ice time, picking up two assists, eight shots on goal and a minus-4 rating.
Looking into the Islanders’ defence corps, it’s hard not to imagine the most recent first overall pick would make the opening night lineup, considering his heavy workload this preseason – especially if he makes plays like these:
2. San Jose Sharks – Michael Misa (F)
Misa has appeared in three games for the Sharks this preseason. However, the second-overall pick has yet to find the scoresheet, despite being put with quality talent such as William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli. Misa has four shots on goal, a 40% faceoff percentage, while averaging 18 minutes of ice time per game.
While it hasn’t been a productive preseason for Misa, the Sharks convinced him to sign an entry-level contract and forgo his commitment to Penn State this season. So his spot on the 2025-26 opening night roster should be solidified, regardless of the weaker Sharks lineup.
3. Chicago Blackhawks – Anton Frondell (F)
Frondell did not play any preseason games for the Blackhawks, as he returned to his SHL team, Djurgårdens IF, for the 2025-26 season. Djurgårdens has kicked off their season already, with Frondell scoring one goal and three points with a plus-6 rating in seven games.
4. Utah Mammoth – Caleb Desnoyers (F)
Desnoyers underwent wrist surgery in August, which is expected to keep him out of game action for 12 weeks, with an estimated return date in early November. This kept Desnoyers out of Mammoth training camp and preseason. Once healthy, he will return to his QMJHL team, the Moncton Wildcats.
5. Nashville Predators – Brady Martin (F)
Martin has suited up in three preseason games, scoring two goals on three shots on goal, adding an assist to his tally. The centreman has a 42.1% faceoff percentage, with a plus-2 rating in 15:19 minutes of average ice time.
The former fifth-overall pick has been put in a position to succeed in the preseason, playing all three games on a line with top forward Filip Forsberg. If Martin does not make the Predators roster, he will return to the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. But with Nashville’s lack of impactful centremen, his chances might be higher than anticipated.
6. Philadelphia Flyers – Porter Martone (F)
Martone could not participate in Flyers training camp or preseason as he committed to Michigan State for the 2025-26 season. Michigan State faces off against Windsor in an exhibition match before making its season debut on October 9 against New Hampshire.
7. Boston Bruins – James Hagens (F)
The same applies to Hagens, as he committed to Boston College of the NCAA for the 2025-26 season and was therefore unable to participate in Bruins training camp or preseason. Boston College take on Quinnipiac for their season opener on October 3.
8. Seattle Kraken – Jake O’Brien (F)
O’Brien appeared in the Kraken’s first preseason game against the Canucks. He failed to hit the scoresheet but registered one shot on goal, a 36.4% faceoff percentage, and a plus-1 rating in 9:55 minutes of ice time. He has since been returned to the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, where he has one assist and a plus-1 rating in his lone game. He will remain in the OHL for the 2025-26 season.
9. Buffalo Sabres – Radim Mrtka (F)
Mrtka has appeared in the second-most preseason games on the list, playing in four of the Sabres’ five preseason games. In his four outings, he has one goal, two points and three shots on goal with a plus-1 rating in 17:45 minutes of average ice time.
Buffalo’s blueline looks too crowded for the 6’6″ defenceman to make the team out of camp. Mrtka will likely return to the Seattle Thunderbirds for the 2025-26 season.
10. Anaheim Ducks – Roger McQueen (F)
Like Martone and Hagens, McQueen committed to Providence College for the 2025-26 season and missed out on Ducks training camp and preseason. Providence plays two exhibition matches before hosting the University of Michigan on October 10.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins – Benjamin Kindel (F)
Kindel has played in five of the Penguins’ six preseason games, scoring one goal and two points with a plus-2 rating in 17:22 minutes of average ice time. He has done well to impress Penguins brass, registering 14 shots on goal and a 58.9% faceoff percentage.
He has certainly performed well this postseason, but the Penguins are not in a position to rush one of their few promising young prospects. As a result, a return to his WHL team, the Calgary Hitmen, seems more likely. However, the fact that Kindel remains on the Penguins’ roster this deep into the preseason might suggest otherwise.
12. Philadelphia Flyers – Jack Nesbitt (F)
Nesbitt appeared in the Flyers’ preseason opener, registering an assist and a 30% faceoff percentage in 16:05 minutes of ice time.
He has since been returned to his OHL team, the Windsor Spitfires. But according to Flyers beat writers, Nesbitt impressed in training camp with his speed and grit.
13. Detroit Red Wings – Carter Bear (F)
Bear played in three of the Red Wings’ six preseason games, failing to find the scoresheet and registering four shots on goal while averaging 17:13 minutes per game. He was assigned to his junior team, the Everett Silvertips, on Wednesday. Bear’s next opportunity to make his season debut will be on October 3, when the Silvertips host the Tri-City Americans.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets – Jackson Smith (D)
Smith was unable to participate in Blue Jackets training camp or the preseason, as he had committed to Penn State for the 2025-26 season. Penn State face off against Arizona State in a pair of non-conference games to kick off their season.
15. Vancouver Canucks – Braeden Cootes (F)
And that brings us to Braeden Cootes. He has played three games, scoring two goals and three points with five shots on goal in 15:44 minutes of average ice time. Cootes has also served well in the faceoff dot, winning 55.6% of his draws.
Outside of the top-two picks, Schaefer and Misa – and potentially Martin – Cootes has the clearest path to making the NHL roster. With the Nils Höglander injury, a spot has opened up in the top nine for the taking.
It’s a lot to ask of an 18-year-old to make the NHL roster out of training camp. But he just might have done enough to earn a spot on October 9 against the Calgary Flames.
Regardless of whether he makes the opening night lineup or not, Cootes appears to be much closer to making that jump than most of the players selected ahead of him in the 2025 NHL draft.
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