Braeden Cootes Reflects on Draft Night

One year after being drafted by the Canucks, Braeden Cootes reflects on the surreal moment his name was called—and how much his family’s joy, especially his usually quiet grandpa’s excitement, meant more than anything. He admits he suspected the Canucks would pick him, but the reality still left him breathless. Looking back, his first development camp was a dream come true—immersing him in NHL life with ice time, media, and Vancouver vibes. Last season was packed: three NHL games, World Juniors with Canada, and WHL playoffs. Now, he’s reconnecting with Canucks prospects and soaking up wisdom from the Sedins. Up next: intense training near Edmonton, Team Canada’s World Juniors camp, and a relentless push to peak physically for training camp—with even more confidence than last year. The NHL Entry Draft kicks off this Friday at 4 PM Pacific. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1e90ad7435a25b63