VANCOUVER – On Friday, the Vancouver Canucks utilized their first-round draft selection to address key requirements for leadership and a prominent center player. However, this solution isn`t expected to impact the team immediately, likely taking three to four seasons to develop.
For two months, the Canucks attempted to trade their draft pick for a top-six center, aiming to mitigate the impact of J.T. Miller`s departure last season. However, they were unable to navigate the market conditions influenced by the rapidly increasing salary cap. Consequently, they kept the pick and chose Braeden Cootes, captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds, as the 15th overall selection in the National Hockey League Draft.
As the youngest captain in the Western Hockey League, Cootes is now considered one of Vancouver`s premier forward prospects. He is potentially ranked just behind Jonathan Lekkerimaki, a 2022 first-round pick and 20-year-old winger who divided the previous season between the Canucks and their AHL affiliate, the Calder Cup champions.
When questioned about growing up in the Edmonton suburb of Sherwood Park, the 18-year-old Cootes remarked, “Well, today is clearly my final day as an Oilers supporter. But yes, I always liked the Canucks. They were a team I enjoyed watching. I especially liked watching Quinn Hughes play, and J.T. Miller during his time there. It`s definitely exciting now to be a Vancouver Canuck, particularly being so close to home and located on the West Coast.”
