We continue working through a variety of prospects, and as always, different qualities and skill sets are brought to the table. With Los Angeles slated to pick at 24th overall, we have different mixes in risk versus reward. For our next subject, he falls closer in the safer category with middle-six upside.
Braeden Cootes
Vitals
Date of Birth: February 9, 2007
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 183 lbs
Shoots: Right
Position: Forward
2024-25 Season
Cootes spent the entire 2024-25 season playing for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. In 60 games, he has 63 points (26 G, 37 A).
Golden Bookends
The native of Sherwood Park, Alberta was part of Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky roster back in August as well as their U-18 team which competed in May. He won gold on both teams.
Leading on the Big Stage
While Cootes’ numbers in the WHL don’t pop out among others in his draft class, that didn’t stop Team Canada’s coaching staff from giving him the captaincy in the U-18 WJC. The ‘C’ wasn’t just symbolic, either, as he led his peers with 12 points (6 G, 6 A) in 7 games.
At the junior hockey level, he also is named co-captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds. This is also unusual, as only three other players have been named captain of their team before being drafted: Conor Bedard, Tanner Howe, and Nate Danielson.
Perfect Locale for a Hobby
Should Los Angeles draft Cootes, he has a fitting hobby of wake surfing.
NHL Combine Results
Cootes attended the NHL Combine, and these are the categories in which he was ranked in the top-25:
Horizontal Jump: 110.3 inches (14th)
VO2 Max: 59.6 ml/kg/min (14th)
Pro Agility – Right Time: 4.38 seconds (tied for 12th)
Fatigue Index: 39.5 (tied for 6th)
Vertical Jump: 21.63 inches (16th)
No Arm Jump: 20.08 inches (9th)
Bench Press 50% of Body Weight – Power: 7.23 watts/kg (9th)
Left Hand Grip: 149 lbs (tied for 17th)
Pull-Ups Consecutive: 15 (tied for 2nd)
Rankings by Independent Scouting Services
Ranked No. 20 by Hockey Prospect Radio: “Recognized for his robust two-way game and relentless hustle, positioning him as a projected elite third-line center. His defensive awareness, leadership, and consistent effort make him a safe top-20 draft pick with a high floor, appealing to teams like the Anaheim Ducks, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia. While his shot may limit his offensive ceiling, Cootes is expected to contribute 15-20 goals and 40-50 points annually, with potential to surpass expectations due to his drive and coach-friendly style.”
Ranked No. 33 by Scott Wheeler’s March Rankings. “Cootes is a well-liked, well-rounded center who played in all situations for Seattle this season, was named their co-captain in the fall and led the low-scoring Thunderbirds in scoring at just above a point per game. He’s a strong skater who plays with energy and detail, earning the trust of coaches with his diligent, complete game. He’s a good athlete. He plays the game with determination. He’s a good penalty killer and five-on-five driver. But while he’s got some secondary skill and made plays on a Seattle team that didn’t have a ton of juice offensively this year, I haven’t seen surefire first-round talent. He’s viewed as a first-rounder in this class and could go as high as the teens but I’m just a little lower on him. His combination of pace, smarts, competitiveness and reliability are appealing and projectable but I think he probably tops out as a contributing third-liner and I don’t see natural power-play skill. I did think about ranking him in the late 20s.”
Ranked No. 21 by Future Considerations. “Cootes is a well-rounded, two-way center whose intelligence, compete level, and consistent effort make him a reliable and impactful presence in all three zones. His offensive game is marked by constant motion without the puck and an ability to find soft ice, which consistently creates high-percentage scoring chances. He excels at making quick, deliberate decisions under pressure and demonstrates the awareness to distribute the puck with purpose, often drawing defenders in before delivering sharp, accurate passes. His puck protection skills are aided by strong lower-body strength and excellent balance, allowing him to maintain possession in tight spaces and frequently come out of board battles with control. Cootes is effective both as a playmaker and a shooter, possessing a heavy, accurate release and the ability to get pucks off quickly, particularly from the net front or the off wing. While he does not possess elite-level stickhandling, his hands are quiet and efficient, enabling him to cradle difficult passes, calm bouncing pucks, and maintain control under duress. Defensively, he consistently supports play with intelligent positioning, often reading developing situations early and taking away passing lanes. He is an active and useful presence on the penalty kill, using his stick well to break up plays and showing a willingness to engage physically, especially in battles in front of his own net. His skating is another strength, built around powerful strides, a good initial burst, and above-average straight-line speed, which allows”
See For Yourself
Video of Cootes versus Everett in the WHL:
Final Comments
Fearlessness is the absence of fear. Courage is action in the presence of it. Sometimes people use these terms interchangeably, yet they are very distinct characteristics.
When looking at the Seattle Thunderbirds’ captain and former 10th overall pick, he falls into the former category. Cootes plays the game like nothing rattles him, and the Sherwood Park native provides high-octane effort in all situations all over the ice.
This mentality is a double-edged sword, as it also plays into his hockey sense. Because of the fearless style of play, highly dangerous situations don’t register to him. As a result, the defensive awareness isn’t at the level someone may want from a two-way forward, yet high-level concepts with exceptional effort more than make up the difference.
Skill-wise, Cootes’ agility and mobility is his strongest asset. He finds the open ice either to move the puck or to get open to receive the pass. Team Canada’s captain is the type who will get a lot of chances. His shot and passing are above average, but not elite. The expectation is he will grow into being a middle-six forward. That’s not a bad thing, either. Late first round picks still have a low chance of being a regular NHL player, and while it wouldn’t be a guarantee for Cootes, Seattle’s forward already has several qualities that improve his chances of success.
Between Kings President Luc wanting more snarl into the lineup and Vice President wanting to have determination, the 6-foot-0 tenacious forward brings both characteristics to the table along with his leadership. Captain Anze Kopitar won’t stay with the team forever, either, so redefining a new culture is something the organization should prepare for sooner rather than later.
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