Vancouver Canucks first-rounder Braeden Cootes injured at prospects game
Training camp doesn’t begin until Thursday, but the Vancouver Canucks have already picked up an injury.
First-round draft pick Braeden Cootes was banged up during Saturday’s prospects game in Everett, Washington, against the Seattle Kraken. The 18-year-old centre left that game early with an undisclosed injury and wasn’t in the lineup for Sunday’s rematch, held at the Kraken’s practice facility in Seattle.
A Canucks spokesperson didn’t offer an injury update when asked by Daily Hive on Monday morning, but did confirm that Cootes was held out of Sunday’s game for “precautionary reasons.”
It’s expected that Cootes will be available when training camp kicks off in Penticton later this week, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic.
Cootes, listed at six feet tall and 185 pounds, was drafted 15th overall by the Canucks last June. The Sherwood Park, Alta. native scored 63 points in 60 games with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds last season. He also served as Canada’s captain at the U18 World Championship, where he piled up 12 points (6-6-12) in seven games.
Cootes is likely destined to return to junior this season, though there is a spot to be won at centre if he has an outstanding preseason campaign.