Vancouver Canucks cut Braeden Cootes and one other player | Daily Hive

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The Vancouver Canucks have cut two more players, as Monday’s roster deadline nears.

Braeden Cootes has been sent down to the AHL, as it appears the 19-year-old rookie will begin the season with the Abbotsford Canucks. Joining Cootes in Abbotsford is 25-year-old centre Matthew Stienburg, who cleared waivers.

Cootes scored a goal and two assists in three preseason games, showing some nice flashes of skill along the way.

The 15th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft surprisingly earned a spot in the opening-night lineup one year ago, but appeared in just three games before being sent back to junior.

Today’s move shouldn’t come as a surprise given what GM Ryan Johnson has said about wanting to avoid yo-yo’ing young players between the NHL and AHL.

“I do not believe in the yo-yo up-and-down American League-NHL of a young player,” Johnson said prior to training camp. “If they’re in the American League, I often see it as there’s one call-up. They kick the door down, there’s one call-up, and they never go back.”

Cootes will benefit from a new NHL rule that allows 19-year-old players to play in the AHL. Previously, the Canucks would have had to play him in the NHL or send him back to junior.

Stienburg, meanwhile, was also expected to start the season in Abbotsford. The 25-year-old centre, who signed with the Canucks in free agency this past summer, has just eight games of NHL experience.

Remaining players on Canucks roster

The opening-night roster is nearly set. (@Canucks/X)

The Canucks have until Monday at 2 p.m. PCT to pare their roster down to a maximum of 23 players. The team currently has 14 forwards, eight defencemen, and four goaltenders, after picking up Leevi Meriläinen off waivers from the Ottawa Senators. That number includes Thatcher Demko, who is currently injured, meaning that we should expect just two more cuts barring further injuries or player acquisitions.

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