Vancouver Canucks Draft Braeden Cootes | NHL Draft Instant Analysis

The Vancouver Canucks had the No. 15 Pick in the 2025 NHL draft. Here's who they took with instant reactions from FloHockey's Chris Peters.

Jun 28, 2025 by Lindsey Plotkin

Vancouver Canucks Draft Braeden Cootes | NHL Draft Instant Analysis

The 2025 NHL Draft began on June 27 at 7:00 PM ET with the New York Islanders having the first pick in the draft and selecting Matthew Schaefer.

With the No. 15 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Vancouver Canucks selected Braeden Cootes from the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Here's FloHockey's Chris Peters' instant reaction:

No. 15 Vancouver Canucks Select: Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle Thunderbirds

Scouting Report

One of the more versatile forwards in the class, Cootes does a little bit of everything that will help a team win. He is a right-shot center with good-enough skill and a solid work ethic. Cootes is a good skater who can play an aggressive brand of hockey that makes him more difficult to contain and dogged in puck pursuit. He captained Canada to the gold medal at the U18 Worlds while also putting up 12 points in a stock-raising performance. Before that, he had 63 points in 60 games in the WHL. The offensive upside might be closer to average, which is why he isn’t higher, but his all-around game and character are going to be attractive to teams in the middle of the first round.

Instant Analysis

Cootes does seem like a hand-to-glove fit for the Canucks. He is an aggressive two-way center with good soft-touch skill. He's a high-character player, too, who was a captain for Seattle and Team Canada at the U18 Worlds. He does a little bit of everything and the Canucks probably need a little bit of everything. I wouldn't be surprised if some Canucks fans get some Bo Horvat vibes from Cootes, who should endear himself to fans quickly.

The 2025 NHL Draft Order

Round 1

1. NY Islanders
2. San Jose
3. Chicago
4. Utah
5. Nashville
6. Philadelphia
7. Boston
8. Seattle
9. Buffalo
10. Anaheim
11. Pittsburgh
12. Pittsburgh (from VAN via NYR)
13. Detroit
14. Columbus
15. Vancouver
16. NY Islanders (From MON via CGY)
17. NY Islanders (From MON)
18. Calgary (from NJD)
19. St. Louis
20. Columbus (from MIN)
21. Ottawa
22. Philadelphia (from COL)
23. Nashville (from TBL)
24. Los Angeles
25. Chicago (from TOR)
26. Nashville (from VGK via SJS)
27. Washington
28. Winnipeg
29. Carolina
30. San Jose (from DAL)
31. Philadelphia (from EDM)
32. Calgary (from FLA)

Round 2

33. San Jose
34. Chicago
35. Nashville
36. Philadelphia
37. Washington (from BOS)
38. Seattle
39. Buffalo
40. Philadelphia (from ANA)
41. Montreal (from PIT)
42. NY Islanders
43. NY Rangers
44. Detroit
45. Anaheim (from CBJ via PHI)
46. Utah
47. Vancouver
48. Philadelphia (from CGY)
49. Montreal
50. New Jersey
51. Boston (from STL via PIT and EDM)
52. Minnesota
53. San Jose (from OTT)
54. Calgary (from COL via WSH)
55. Nashville (from TBL)
56. Tampa Bay (from LAK)
57. Seattle (from TOR via UTA and TBL)
58. Vegas
59. Pittsburgh (from WSH)
60. Anaheim (from WPG via NJD)
61. Boston (from CAR via COL)
62. Chicago (from DAL)
63. New Jersey (from EDM via UTA)
64. Toronto (from FLA)

Round 3

65. Vancouver (from SJS via VGK and NYR)
66. Chicago
67. Nashville
68. Philadelphia
69. Boston
70. NY Rangers (from SEA)
71. Buffalo
72. Anaheim
73. Pittsburgh
74. NY Islanders
75. Detroit (from NYR via UTA)
76. Detroit
77. Columbus
78. Utah
79. Montreal (from VAN)
80. Calgary
81. Montreal
82. Montreal (from NJD)
83. Edmonton (from STL)
84. Pittsburgh (from MIN via PHI and NSH)
85. Pittsburgh (from OTT via STL)
86. Toronto (from COL via NSH and SJS)
87. Carolina (from TBL)
88. Los Angeles
89. NY Rangers (from TOR via ANA)
90. New Jersey (from VGK)
91. Vegas (from WSH)
92. Winnipeg
93. Washington (from CAR)
94. Dallas
95. San Jose (from EDM)
96. Ottawa (from FLA)

Round 4

97. Ottawa (from SJS)
98. Chicago
99. New Jersey (from NSH)
100. Boston (from PHI via TOR)
101. Anaheim (from BOS via DET)
102. Seattle
103. Buffalo
104. Anaheim
105. Pittsburgh
106. NY Islanders
107. Chicago (from NYR)
108. Montreal (from DET)
109. Columbus
110. Utah
111. NY Rangers (from VAN via COL)
112. Florida (from CGY)
113. Montreal
114. New Jersey
115. San Jose (from STL via CBJ)
116. Buffalo (from MIN via ANA)
117. Vancouver (from OTT via EDM)
118. Colorado
119. Detroit (from TBL)
120. Los Angeles
121. Minnesota (from TOR)
122. Vegas
123. Washington
124. San Jose (from WPG via DAL)
125. Carolina
126. Dallas
127. Tampa Bay (from EDM)
128. Florida

Round 5

129. Florida (from SJS)
130. Pittsburgh (from CHI via TOR and WSH)
131. Nashville
132. Philadelphia
133. Boston
134. Seattle
135. Buffalo
136. Anaheim
137. Toronto (from PIT)
138. NY Islanders
139. NY Rangers
140. Detroit
141. Minnesota (from CBJ)
142. Utah
143. Vancouver
144. Calgary
145. Montreal
146. Dallas (from NJD)
147. St. Louis
148. Pittsburgh (from MIN via NYR)
149. Ottawa
150. San Jose (from COL)
151. Tampa Bay
152. Los Angeles
153. Toronto
154. Vegas
155. Washington
156. Winnipeg
157. Philadelphia (from CAR)
158. Dallas
159. Anaheim (from EDM)
160. Florida

Round 6

161. New Jersey (from SJS)
162. Chicago
163. Nashville
164. Philadelphia
165. Boston
166. NY Rangers (from SEA)
167. Buffalo
168. Anaheim
169. Pittsburgh
170. NY Islanders
171. NY Rangers
172. Detroit
173. Columbus
174. Utah
175. Vancouver
176. Calgary
177. Montreal
178. New Jersey
179. St. Louis
180. Minnesota
181. Ottawa
182. Nashville (from COL)
183. Carolina (from TBL)
184. Los Angeles
185. Toronto
186. Vegas
187. Vegas (from WSH)
188. Winnipeg
189. Carolina
190. Dallas
191. Edmonton
192. Florida

Round 7

193. Tampa Bay (from SJS)
194. Chicago
195. Buffalo (from NSH)
196. Los Angeles (from PHI)
197. Chicago (from BOS)
198. Seattle
199. Buffalo
200. Anaheim
201. Pittsburgh
202. NY Islanders
203. NY Rangers
204. Detroit
205. Columbus
206. Tampa Bay (from UTA)
207. Vancouver
208. Calgary
209. Montreal
210. San Jose (from NJD)
211. Detroit (from STL)
212. Tampa Bay (from MIN)
213. Ottawa
214. Colorado
215. Tampa Bay
216. Los Angeles
217. Toronto
218. Columbus (from VGK)
219. Buffalo (from WSH via SJS)
220. Winnipeg
221. Carolina
222. Dallas
223. Edmonton
224. Florida

How To Watch The 2025 NHL Draft

The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft will be televised exclusively on the NHL Network as well as ESPN and ESPN+ beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, June 27. Rounds 2-7 will be on NHL Network and ESPN+.

FloHockey's Top 100 NHL Prospects

Matthew Schaefer Tops Chris Peters' Final Top 100 before the NHL Draft, see the full list here.

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey.

Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

Watch the AHL, ECHL, USHL, And More On FloHockey

FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.

Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social

Follow us on Twitter @FloHockey
Follow us on Instagram @flohockey
Follow us on TikTok @flohockeytv
Watch us on YouTube
Like us on Facebook