Cootes Shines as Youth Power Drives Canucks' Roster

A New Era for the Vancouver Canucks

Every 35 years, an extraordinary event occurs in the world of hockey. An 18-year-old center emerges, regardless of whether the team needs him or not, and makes a remarkable impact on the Vancouver Canucks. Braeden Cootes is one such player. The teenager from Edmonton, drafted 15th overall in June, has become a central figure in the impressive youth movement that is shaping the Canucks' season-opening roster.

The last time an 18-year-old draft pick made it to the NHL in his first training camp was Petr Nedved in 1990. No one anticipated this level of success from Cootes—except perhaps himself. “You have that confidence in the back of your head that you can make it,” he said. “I’m a competitive person. I want to make the team.”

Against all odds, Cootes, the captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds, has managed to do just that. He is joined by five other prospects who spent most of last season in the American Hockey League (AHL), where the Abbotsford Canucks won their first Calder Cup.

The Canucks’ opening-night roster includes 14 forwards, seven defencemen, and two goalies. Among them are defenceman Elias Pettersson (Junior) and forwards Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, and Aatu Raty.

With the summer trade of Dakota Joshua to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canucks intentionally left room for competition in the lower half of their roster. This opportunity grew even larger when Nils Hoglander suffered an ankle injury during pre-season.

The team also needed help at the center position after J.T. Miller was traded in January and Pius Suter left as a free agent in July. This created an environment where young players could rise through the ranks.

General Manager Patrik Allvin admitted that no one expected Cootes to lead the charge of six prospects making the roster. “No, probably not,” he said. Allvin had been scouting Cootes at the Under-18 World Championship in May, where the speedy center captained Canada’s gold-medal team. He was impressed by the progress Cootes made by July, when the Canucks held their rookie development camp.

Allvin noted that Cootes prepared himself well over the summer and demonstrated a strong character and drive. “He absorbed information and kept getting better,” the GM said. “The coaches have been really impressed with his coachability. He definitely earned this.”

Karlsson, Bains, and Raty, who have spent most of the last three seasons in the minors, would have required waivers to be sent back to the AHL. However, Lekkerimaki and Pettersson, both 21, have already proven themselves in North America. Cootes, still young enough to play another two years of junior hockey, is now part of the NHL scene.

Veteran Canuck Conor Garland praised Cootes’ performance, saying, “To get him in the middle of the first round, you don’t see many guys that can come in and (make the team) with a first camp like that.”

Now, the challenge for all the newly-promoted prospects, especially Cootes, is to stay in the NHL. Making it is tough, but staying is even harder.

The auditioning forwards were helped by the youth of the Canucks’ other excellent defense prospects. Victor Mancini and Tom Willander, who did not require waivers to be assigned to the AHL, were the final cuts on Sunday.

With injuries to Teddy Blueger, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, and Derek Forbort, the Canucks could shift someone to injured reserve and recall a player before Thursday.

Cootes and Raty’s success does not change the organization’s stated goal of adding another NHL center, but their pre-season performances have eased the pressure on Allvin to make a move for opening night.

“We’re not sitting here saying we’re desperate,” Allvin explained. “I think that it’s, again, an area that we have recognized that we want to improve. Sometimes these deals take a little bit longer than you want. But that being said, I believe in the group we have here.”

The new wave of young players on the Canucks is a win for hockey operations. Allvin credited Todd Harvey and his amateur scouting staff, minor-league coach Manny Malhotra and his assistants in Abbotsford, and the player-development department that includes Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Mikael Samuelsson, and Mike Komisarek.

Cootes is making the journey faster than any Canuck in the last 35 years. “Bigger picture, what’s the best path for Braeden here?” Allvin asked. “I think that’s no different than what we’ve been talking about. From there, he just continued to earn another opportunity.”

After Thursday’s game at Rogers Arena, the Canucks will face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night, return home to face the St. Louis Blues on Monday, and then open a five-game road trip with back-to-back contests in Dallas and Chicago, starting next Thursday.

They’re going to need all of their players.