Could Braeden Cootes become the Vancouver Canucks’ version of Ryan O’Reilly in 2009? 

Back in ‘09, O’Reilly shocked the hockey world by making the Colorado Avalanche roster at 18 years old as a second-round pick. He wasn’t flashy, but he played a responsible 200-foot game, filled a desperate need at centre, and earned the respect of veterans with his work ethic and maturity. 

That rookie season, O’Reilly put up 26 points while playing tough matchups — a feat that helped stabilize Colorado’s lineup. Fast forward to 2025, and the Canucks find themselves in a similar spot. 

Depth down the middle remains one of the franchise’s biggest question marks, and Cootes, at just 18, has already shown the poise, compete level, and hockey IQ that screams “NHL-ready.” His camp performance has turned heads, and like O’Reilly, his skillset isn’t built on flash but on reliability, smarts, and consistency. 

For Vancouver, this could be the story of necessity meeting opportunity. Just as Colorado needed O’Reilly to step in and play above his age, the Canucks may find themselves leaning on Cootes earlier than expected. If he delivers, the ripple effect could change the balance of their roster — and maybe even the trajectory of this team’s season. 

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