Sherwood Park's Braeden Cootes fights for Canucks roster spot at camp
The 19-year-old forward is living out of a Vancouver hotel while he waits to learn where he'll play this season, as the rebuilding Canucks lean on a wave of young prospects.
Braeden Cootes, a 19-year-old centre from Sherwood Park, Alta., is one of 12 players age 21 or younger the Vancouver Canucks brought to training camp in Penticton, B.C., this week as the club begins a rebuild. Until Vancouver decides where he'll play this season, Cootes is staying in a hotel near Rogers Arena, saying the uncertainty is worth it for a shot at an NHL roster spot.
Cootes appeared in three NHL games last season before returning to the Western Hockey League, where he recorded 10 goals and 13 assists in 17 games with the Seattle Thunderbirds before being traded to the Prince Albert Raiders. With Prince Albert he added 14 goals and 26 assists in 28 regular-season games, plus seven goals and 16 assists in 20 playoff games.
Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson said he wants to avoid shuffling prospects between the American Hockey League and NHL, while head coach Manny Malhotra said staff are focused on long-term development rather than short-term camp performances. Cootes said it's up to him to prove he's ready, adding he plans to focus on playing his game rather than setting high expectations.
Vancouver has also added veteran forward Brendan Gallagher and defenceman Luke Schenn in free agency to help mentor the team's younger players, including third-overall 2026 draft pick Caleb Malhotra, who is beginning his freshman season at Boston University rather than attending camp.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.