Vancouver Canucks

Cootes Looks Like a Future Star for the Canucks

Cootes is heating up in the WHL playoffs, and it’s starting to feel like the Canucks may have a future star in the making.

by
Old Prof
March 30, 2026

If you’ve watched Vancouver Canucks prospect Braeden Cootes all season, from training camp on, you’ll already know you’re watching a young player who is one day going to be an NHL star. He’s not just a nice prospect; he could become an elite player down the road. And given the Canucks rebuild, that could be just what the organization needs.

Cootes Season with the Prince Albert Raiders Has Been Great

During the 2025–26 season with the Prince Albert Raiders, Braeden Cootes put up 40 points in 28 games, then added 5 points in his first two playoff games. He didn’t waste any time in the WHL playoffs either. Two goals and an assist in Game 1, then comes right back with a couple more helpers in Game 2.

That’s more than just production. He’s a player driving the game. Prince Albert is leaning on him, and he looks more than comfortable carrying that weight. If anything, he seems to want it.

Why Does Cootes Production Feel Like More Than Just a Hot Streak?

First, Cootes has that “always around it” factor.

Every time something happens — a turnover, a loose puck, a scoring chance — Cootes seems like he’s in the middle of it. Coaches talk about players who “hunt” the puck, and that fits here. He’s not waiting for plays to come to him. He’s creating them. Whether it’s on the forecheck or tracking back, he’s involved, and that kind of motor usually translates.

Second, Cootes’ offensive instincts are real.

His points are nice, but it’s how they’re coming. He’s not just piling up secondary assists or getting lucky bounces. He’s making plays that generate scoring chances. He finds seams on the power play, gets inside the dots, and puts himself in spots where goals actually happen. His release is Grade A. And when you mix those skills with his vision, you’re talking about a player who can do damage in more than one way.

Braeden Cootes Canucks — Braeden Cootes is a solid prospect for the Vancouver Canucks.

Third, Cootes looks like a driver, not a passenger.

This might be the biggest reason Cootes could make it big. Some young players produce because they’re playing with good teammates. Cootes looks like the guy pushing the line. Since the trade to Prince Albert, he’s stepped into a leadership role and hasn’t blinked. That says a lot. Teams going on deep playoff runs need someone to lean on, and right now, that’s him.

From the Canucks Perspective, Cootes Has Huge Possibilities

And from a Canucks perspective, things could get interesting. This isn’t just about junior numbers anymore. His play suggests real top-end potential. If he keeps playing fast, thinking the game well, and producing when it matters, you start to see where he fits down the road.

No one’s handing out “future star” labels after a couple of playoff games. But every once in a while, a player starts checking boxes early. Cootes is starting to check a lot of them.