Let's get this dude over here when his KHL contract is up and see what we have.....
6'5" 224 lb 2 way centre who pk's and is ice aware...doesn't seem to mind the front of the net either.
A smart defense-first type player and an excellent penalty killer with a big frame that sees the ice well. He makes good decisions with and without the puck and tends to be in the right place at the right time; there is potential for more of a two-way player within the right situation.
Throw him at a wall in Abby and see if he sticks. If he can cover the ice well enough at that size, he's worth a flyer on the 4th line - assuming the organization has moved on from Raty. At this point, no one no matter how young should feel that they're job is safe.
IF he'll come over, and IF he'll play in the A - then we need to try to get him over and we have in him.
I'd even give him a couple with the big squad.
KHL winds up at the end of this month - so there's some possibility. Plus he only signed a 1 year contract last, so we assume he might want to test out North America.
Cootes will be a gooder, that PA team is stacked as well. They essentially run 4 lines so he's putting those numbers up with less ice-time than guys on other teams that aren't as strong.
Will not be surprised to see Cootes at the Memorial Cup, likely PA or Everett coming out of the West. Perhaps a battle of Canucks prospect vs future Canucks prospect in DuPont.
Lancer wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 6:19 am
Throw him at a wall in Abby and see if he sticks. If he can cover the ice well enough at that size, he's worth a flyer on the 4th line - assuming the organization has moved on from Raty. At this point, no one no matter how young should feel that they're job is safe.
More like they will move on from Blueger and Kampf. Last year his agent said he wanted to play in the NHL but a contract could not be worked out before he had to commit to the KHL, I think 2 years ago, maybe last year, don't remember the exact specifics just that he had to commit and had tried to work out a contract before hand. He did sign a one year with the Canucks so I think he was showing his intentions. Who knows if he will translate into the NHL but a cheap ELC and a year to prove himself. Would be a nice surprise for us no?
A for Cootes, unless we get another top six centre between now and training camp I think they use their exception and park him at least in Abbotsford. He clearly wasn't ready for the NHL last year and good on them for returning him to junior. Lets see what a full year of development brings. He didn't exactly overwhelm at the World Juniors.