Braeden Cootes
A one-man forecheck, Cootes’ motor and energy are undeniably elite. In a single shift, he can amass multiple retrievals, guiding opponents into a big hit, spinning off a check and passing, winning another race by winning inside position metres before the boards, and repeating over and over until the puck finds twine. Primarily a playmaker, he escapes with quick passes inside and occasionally deceives opponents to find a backdoor option. After passing, he dashes to the net to create traffic and collect loose pucks. -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide
| DATE | STATUS | FROM | TO | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/06/2026 | ||||
| 01/06/2026 | Confirmed | Seattle Thunderbirds | Prince Albert Raiders | |
| 10/14/2025 | ||||
| 10/14/2025 | Up/Down | Vancouver Canucks | Seattle Thunderbirds | |
| 07/09/2025 | ||||
| 07/09/2025 | Confirmed | Seattle Thunderbirds | Vancouver Canucks | |
| 06/10/2022 | ||||
| 06/10/2022 | Confirmed | Yale Hockey Academy U15 Prep | Seattle Thunderbirds | |
Drafted 2022, 1 #10 overall by Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL Prospects Draft
2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #18 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #16 by Elite Prospects
2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #14 by ISS Hockey
2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #21 by FCHockey
2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #22 by TSN/Craig Button
2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #17 by McKeen's Hockey
2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #20 by NHL Central Scouting
2025 NHL Entry Draft: Ranked #21 by DobberProspects