Canucks News & Rumours: Braeden Cootes, Elias Pettersson & Odd New Partnerships

Sometimes the most interesting training camp battles are not really battles at all. They’re decisions. A young player shows he’s ready, but the organization has to decide whether “ready” means ready for the NHL or simply ready for the next step. In short, how much development does a talented player need before he’s ready to join the NHL roster?

That’s the conversation surrounding Braeden Cootes as the Vancouver Canucks get closer to training camp. As Stephan Roget recently explored at CanucksArmy, the team has several different paths available with one of its fastest-rising prospects. The interesting part isn’t simply where Cootes plays. It’s how his development could reshape the rest of the lineup.

Is Braeden Cootes Good Enough to Force the Canucks’ Hand?

One thing that stands out about Cootes is that he keeps making people rethink their expectations. Last fall, few expected him to earn an opening-night roster spot, yet he managed to do exactly that before returning to junior hockey to continue his development. Since then, his stock has only continued to rise.

Now the Canucks have an option they didn’t have before. Because of the new Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and American Hockey League (AHL) agreement, Vancouver can send the 19-year-old to the Abbotsford Canucks rather than back to junior, giving them much more flexibility in how they develop him. There’s no need for management to rush him into a full-time NHL role.

But if Cootes has another outstanding training camp, that decision becomes much harder. As Roget noted, Vancouver probably won’t keep him around to play limited fourth-line minutes. If he earns an NHL job, it likely needs to be in the top nine where he’s playing meaningful hockey rather than watching veterans take the important shifts.

That makes the most sense. Development isn’t about getting a player into the NHL as quickly as possible. It’s about putting him in the best place to succeed, especially on a rebuilding Canucks team. If Cootes is playing 18 or 20 important minutes a night in Abbotsford, that would be better than playing eight or nine sheltered minutes in Vancouver. But if he proves he’s already one of the Canucks’ nine best forwards, then the organization shouldn’t stand in his way either. That’s a good problem for any team to have.

Could Braeden Cootes Even Help Unlock Elias Pettersson?

The more intriguing possibility is what happens if Cootes earns more than just an NHL roster spot. What if he plays his way into the top six? That’s where this story becomes about more than one prospect. Now the conversation shifts to Elias Pettersson.

Moving Pettersson back to the wing isn’t necessarily a demotion. In fact, some of his best hockey came earlier in his career when he wasn’t carrying all the responsibilities of playing centre. A move beside Cootes could reduce some of the defensive workload while allowing Pettersson to focus more on creating offence.

There’s another benefit that shouldn’t be overlooked. Young centres often develop faster when they’re surrounded by experienced linemates who can help with faceoffs, defensive details, and reading the game. In a way, a Cootes-Pettersson line would give Vancouver two centres on the same line. If Pettersson finds his game again while helping Cootes establish his own, the Canucks could solve two problems with one lineup move. It’s an interesting idea, and one that Roget deserves credit for raising.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

Training camp should answer most of these questions soon enough. If Cootes isn’t ready, Abbotsford offers an excellent place to continue his development while playing big minutes against professionals. There’s no shame in taking that route if it’s what gives him the best chance to become a long-term NHL player. In fact, it would also allow the Canucks to be patient with several of their younger players instead of rushing anyone into a role they’re not ready for.

But if he once again exceeds expectations, the Canucks have a much more interesting problem to solve. Sometimes the biggest story in training camp isn’t whether a prospect makes the team. It’s how that prospect changes everyone else’s role. Cootes may be about to do exactly that.