Vancouver Canucks select Braeden Cootes with 15th pick in NHL draft

Braeden Cootes spent a year living in Vancouver in the past.

And the Canucks' opening-round pick at the 2025 NHL draft is hoping it's eventually home for a long time.

The first Canadian club to make a selection Friday night chose the centre from the Western Hockey League's Seattle Thunderbirds at No. 15.

"Honestly, I kind of blacked out for a second," Cootes said. "It was crazy. It was an unbelievable moment I'll always remember." 

The 18-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta., put up 26 goals and 37 assists for 63 points across 60 games as Seattle's captain in 2024-25.

Cootes lived in Vancouver for a year earlier in his teens and is familiar with the city.

"Went to quite a few Canucks games," said the five-foot-11, 183-pound forward. "This is unbelievable." 

Vancouver finished 10th in the Western Conference last season, six points below the playoff cutline. 

"I love it out west," Cootes said. "Couldn't be happier." 

The Canucks have already been active this off-season, acquiring Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, while fellow winger Brock Boeser is set to become an unrestricted free agent Tuesday.

The Montreal Canadiens owned the 16th and 17th picks, but dealt both to the New York Islanders along with forward Emil Heineman for defenceman Noah Dobson in a blockbuster swap.

The Calgary Flames were the next Canadian club on the draft board, selecting centre Cole Reschny with the 18th overall pick.

The Senators chose defenceman Logan Hensler with No. 23 pick after trading down from No. 21 in a deal with the Nashville Predators that also secured the 67th overall pick for Ottawa.

The Winnipeg Jets took Swedish defenceman Sascha Boumedienne at No. 28 before the Flames rounded out the first day of the draft by