Vancouver Canucks top prospect Braeden Cootes has hit the ground running with his new Western Hockey League team, making an immediate impact for the Prince Albert Raiders following a major trade deadline deal.
A First-Star Performance in Prince Albert
The 18-year-old centre, who was the Canucks' first-round pick (15th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft, was named the first star in just his second game with the Raiders. This honour came after a 5-3 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday night at the Art Hauser Centre, where Cootes contributed a goal and an assist. He also registered four shots on goal and won 9 of his 16 face-offs.
This strong showing followed his debut the previous night, a 6-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos, where he fired five shots and was dominant in the face-off circle, winning 5 of 6 draws.
Blockbuster Trade Sets Stage for Championship Run
The Raiders acquired Cootes in a significant pre-deadline move last Tuesday, sending four players and four WHL Draft selections—including first-round picks in 2026 and 2028—to the Seattle Thunderbirds. Seattle also received two additional draft picks and a conditional selection in the complex swap.
The trade positions the Raiders, who hold a strong record of 28-6-4-0 and are the Eastern Conference's second seed, as a serious contender. Cootes expressed clear optimism about the team's potential, telling reporters, "The sky's the limit. We can do anything we put our minds to. I think we can go all the way." He praised his new teammates' focus, adding, "Guys are dialled in, man. They know what they want. They want to win badly. It's pretty cool to be here."
A Season of High-Level Competition
Cootes' 2025-26 season has already been eventful. He earned a spot on the Vancouver Canucks' opening night roster after an impressive training camp, appearing in three NHL games before being reassigned to junior. He also represented Canada at the World Junior Championship, causing him to miss additional WHL games.
Despite the limited schedule, his production has been notable. In 19 WHL games this season split between Seattle and Prince Albert, he has compiled 11 goals and 25 points. This builds on a solid previous campaign with Seattle where he posted 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games.
In Prince Albert, Cootes has been skating on a line with Maddix McCagherty and Max Heise, a San Jose Sharks draft pick. The Raiders boast a deep and potent lineup, led in scoring by 20-year-old Aiden Oiring (45 points), and supported by Dallas Stars prospect Brandon Gorzynski (42 points). The team ranks third in the WHL in goals scored (171) and power-play efficiency (31.5%), while allowing the second-fewest goals against (100).
The Raiders' next action is Tuesday at home against the Brandon Wheat Kings. With no regular-season games scheduled in British Columbia, the earliest fans in the province could see Cootes play live would be during the WHL Final or at the Memorial Cup national championship tournament, which is being held in Kelowna this May.
