Much has been made of the Vancouver Canucks' season, both on and off the ice. The JT Miller-Elias Pettersson locker-room drama, or lack thereof, depending on who you ask, took up a lot of energy, eventually leading to Miller's departure to New York before the trade deadline. By the end of the season, "disappointing" was the only appropriate word.
With their pick in the first round, the Canucks turned their focus to a hard-working, forechecking forward from the WHL, using the 15th pick to select Braeden Cootes. As the youngest captain in the league, Cootes should bring a calming presence to the locker room, especially after adding Evander Kane from the Oilers.
Leadership goes a long way at the NHL Draft.
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 27, 2025
Just ask the youngest active captain in the WHL, Braeden Cootes!@SeattleTbirds | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/ABNWCUKsE1
Cootes might be the best two-way forward in the class
Along with leading the Seattle Thunderbirds, Cootes was the captain for Team Canada at the U18 Championship, scoring 12 points and leading the Canadians to gold. With Seattle this season, Cootes was over a point-per-game, scoring 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games. At his best, he can drive the play and put his teammates in position to score.
His offensive game is great, but his defensive game is what has earned him rave reviews among scouts during the scouting process. Elite Prospects has him listed as the second-best two-way forward in the class, behind only 2nd pick Michael Misa. He forechecks like his life depends on it, and isn't afraid to lay the lumber.
There are concerns about his offensive upside in the NHL, though his defensive prowess up front should be enough alone to get him to the dance. Cootes can be deployed in any situation and should thrive in at least a middle-six role. There's still plenty of room for his game to grow, though there's no denying the Canucks got a solid leader in the first round on Friday.