Braeden Cootes evidently made an impression on the Vancouver Canucks at development camp last week.
The Canucks announced Wednesday that to a three-year, entry-level contract. , Cootes' contract carries a $975,000 cap hit, with $500,000 in performance bonuses that could increase the cap hit to $1,475,000 if he reaches all of those bonuses in a season.
The Canucks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and he is the fourth prospect signed from the draft, after fellow first-round picks Lynden Lakovic and Jake O'Brien, and second-round pick Milton Gästrin. All four prospects have identical base salaries, as entry-level contracts are fairly standard, but Cootes's $500,000 in potential performance bonuses is second among this group behind eighth-overall pick O'Brien, who has $1 million in potential bonuses.
The contract is a significant vote of confidence in the young centre. In all likelihood, Cootes won't play for the Canucks next season and will instead head back to the WHL to play for the Seattle Thunderbirds, but the early contract gives Cootes a $97,500 signing bonus heading into the summer.
The 18-year-old centre was a clear standout at the Canucks' development camp, showcasing a diverse skill set and high-end habits. His puck skills and skating looked NHL-caliber, but where he really separated himself was with his shot. Where some prospects were trying to pick corners with the puck and missing or giving a goaltender an easy save, Cootes used deception to fool goaltenders into committing early before picking a spot low blocker, five-hole, or past the shoulder.
"You look at [Connor] Hellebuyck, he's six-foot-whatever — it's pretty hard to shoot high sometimes," said Cootes when I asked him about his shot selection. "Goalies don't want to go down either, it's a lot more effort. If you show a little bit of deception, or you can freeze them for a bit, then you can go five-hole. That low-glove, low-far-side, that's a pretty common thing in the NHL where guys are shooting, so I'm just trying to pick up on different trends that you can learn from."
Clearly, Cootes is already thinking about how he's going to beat NHL goaltending, rather than what might be effective in junior.
That focus on taking the next step pairs well with his work ethic. A self-described rink rat, Cootes seems like the type of player that this management group loves: diligent, hard-working, and ready to do whatever it takes to improve his game.
"Braeden showed really well at our development camp, and we are happy to get him under contract,” in a statement. “His compete level and desire to be one of the best players on the ice at U小蓝视频 was apparent from the very first day. We liked his hard work and attention to detail, and we look forward to helping him improve as a hockey player."
Considering his already well-developed two-way game, Cootes could be ready for the NHL a lot sooner than anticipated. The odds are against him being ready as early as next season, but it's not as if the Canucks are stacked down the middle.
If Cootes can make it tough for the Canucks to cut him at training camp in the Fall, he could at least earn a nine-game audition in the NHL before he gets sent back to junior without expending a year of his entry-level contract.
