Seattle Thunderbirds' Braeden Cootes Continues To Impress Ahead Of The 2025 NHL Draft

The 2024-25 season has been a special one for Seattle Thunderbirds Braeden Cootes. The 2025 NHL Draft prospect was named co-captain of the Thunderbirds earlier this season and participated in the first-ever CHL USA Prospects Challenge. Projected to go in the first round this year, Cootes remains focused on improving his game and helping Seattle reach their full potential.

Listed at 6'0", 183 pounds, Cootes is a talented center who can have an impact at both ends of the ice. The Sherwood Park, Alberta-born forward describes himself as a "200-foot player who is good in the dot, very competitive and wants to win." Cootes is also one of the best play drivers in the WHL, excelling at both zone entries and exits when the puck is on his stick.

On November 22, Cootes, along with Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio were named co-captains of the Thunderbirds. At just 17, he is the youngest captain in the WHL and joins an exclusive list that includes Conor Bedard, Tanner Howe and Nate Danielson of players to wear the "C" before being drafted. For Cootes, receiving the "C" was a special moment and something that he takes very seriously.

"Yeah, it's everything, said Cootes. I mean, to be chosen for that at 17 was a big honour. I take huge responsibility for it and don't take a day for granted."

Now in his second full season, Cootes is developing into one of the young stars of the WHL. He leads Seattle in points with 32 and sits seventh in scoring among draft-eligible players. Cootes has learned a lot over his 103 games in the WHL and credits the Thunderbirds organization for helping him get to this point.

"How to be a winner. Winning habits every day and how to be a pro. Here, we want to win. Right now, we're struggling a little bit, but we'll get there. Just working every day to get better."

As mentioned, Cootes is projected to go in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Most rankings have him going in the second half of the first round, including The Hockey News' Tony Ferrari, who has him ranked 18th. While getting drafted is something Cootes is looking forward to, his main goal remains improving his overall game and helping Seattle fight for a playoff spot this season.

"Try not to think about it. Obviously, it's kind of impossible not to think about it at all, but I just try to go out there and play and let my game take care of itself. I mean, you see (draft rankings). I don't look for it, but it's kind of hard not to see it. But you know, those are rankings at the end of the day. They don't really mean anything until the rankings after the draft."

Preparing for the draft is stressful, but luckily, Cootes has players he can look to for guidance. Mynio and Scott Ratzalff have been through the process before and are helping the 17-year-old navigate his draft season. He is also getting some help from Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Kevin Korchinski, who was his billet brother when Cootes was a 15-year-old call-up during the 2022-23 season.

"Yeah, for sure, Sawyer and Scotty have been a huge help. Even Korchinski, who I lived with when I was 15. I've been talking to him a lot. You know, the seventh overall pick is pretty impressive. Just learning from him and what he did and all the things it takes to be a first-round pick."

Cootes is the type of player every NHL organization should be champing at the bit to add. He works hard every shift and has developed into a strong two-way center. If Cootes can keep adding tools to his game, it should translate to a long career in the NHL.

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