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AI told me,
“Matthew Stienburg is a 25-year-old, 6'1" physical power forward who recently signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks to provide gritty bottom-six organizational depth. Originally a third-round draft pick by Colorado, his development and playing time have been heavily limited by a history of long-term structural upper-body injuries—primarily shoulder issues stemming from his aggressive, high-hitting style of play—rather than a documented history of concussions. While naturally a centre who can also play the wing, Stienburg’s realistic potential is a hard-nosed, energy-injecting fourth-line banger or primary AHL call-up option, provided his body can withstand the physical toll of his high-impact game.”

I just watched the summer camp 3 on 3. The usual suspects performed well. Cootes had at least 5 goals, with Malholtra and Patterson both with a pair. Novotny and Aaram-Olson also scored. I couldn’t see names or numbers well enough to track assists. But it was fun pond hockey.

Have seen a few clips online, Novotny can move.

Tciso wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 9:52 pm I just watched the summer camp 3 on 3. The usual suspects performed well. Cootes had at least 5 goals, with Malholtra and Patterson both with a pair. Novotny and Aaram-Olson also scored. I couldn’t see names or numbers well enough to track assists. But it was fun pond hockey.

The whole thing is closer to a social than a tryout, and I don't think that you can draw any conclusions from how people looked. But without drawing conclusions, you can see some individual things. Like Novotny's wheels are real (though appear faster against a guy on a long shift who can't turn....) and seems very physically developed for an 18 year old. And like Aaram-Olson showed us he possesses the kind of rare shot that can beat an NHL goalie face up. (Almost anyone can get a hold of one, but when a guy is drafted where he was because of the shot, when you see it deployed, you start imagining what it would be like if that was consistent and he had a chance to get it off regularly). And that Braeden Cootes looks like he honestly possesses a "first round" suite of skills, which is a nice thing to see when it was a non-skill-based attributes (hockey IQ, "character") that were the talking points distinguishing him from the rest of the mid-to-late first round tier last season.

It’ll be interesting to see how Cootes’ skills translate to the pros. I agree the kid has legit skill to go with the IQ and character that were his standout traits at his draft.

If he turns out as a less-physical, less agitating Kesler that’s nothing to sniff at, and not a bad option as a 2nd/3rd-line C.

One thing the kids playing centre in this organization will enjoy is having a face off Jedi master behind the bench. Whatever the wins and losses the next couple of years, hopefully they learn to win faceoffs if nothing else.

Or we can bench them, and play turds like Kampf and Reichel instead. But hopefully RJ learned from Foote what not to do.

As a fan watching games, I'd love to see Cootes in the lineup - as a fan who should be patient, I want to see him in the A this year and only get called up towards the end of the season.

For more selfish reasons I too would like to see him play in the bigs…

If he plays well, makes the team and pulls his weight he should be here.

If not he shouldn't.

Linden played from 18.

Was he worse off or better off for it.

Some can and some can not.

It is the NFG's job to figure it out.

What a load of pressure off the down the middle position it would be if this kid can toe that 3C line instead of the mushy headed dude.

There is already a shot blocking 3C on the roster

Cornuck wrote: ↑Fri Jul 03, 2026 4:47 pm As a fan watching games, I'd love to see Cootes in the lineup - as a fan who should be patient, I want to see him in the A this year and only get called up towards the end of the season.

Have the Canucks signed any thugs to protect guys like Coates in the A?


I assume Douglas will be on the waiver wire at the end of preseason, I would claim him and put him in the A.

I mean...I did mention the mushy headed dude...

Riley Paterson

6' 195lb RS Centre

Skates above average
Hands above average
Offensive skills above average

Year 1 OHL - 68GP 29G 33A
Year 2 OHL - 64GP 25G 34A
Year 3 OHL (25/26) 60GP 40G 44A

CHL playoffs (career) 27GP 12G 11A

Played 4 games in Abby with a goal and an assist post OHL playoffs.

^ He's a guy I've felt is quite promising, even without my rose-coloured glasses.

Kid has a good attitude and approach. Force management to make a decision with him on instead of managing his own expectations.

He may be a diamond in the rough. Nothing that would alter the team’s trajectory, but hopefully a building piece for management down the road.