NB
2.7K posts
It really hasn’t. If anything, it’s only reinforced why I was banging the “Cootes at 15” drum last year.
He’s not the dynamic centre who beats you with blazing speed or highlight-reel hands. But he’s the type of do-it-all pivot you want on your side in big moments.
Yes, he finished third in playoff scoring, but so much of his value comes away from the puck. He consistently inserts himself into plays, defends responsibly, and impacts the game in all three zones. He projects as a very reliable two-way centre and probable NHL middle-six option.
More than anything, though, everyone who crosses paths with him raves about the leadership qualities — and he plays exactly that way on the ice. The kid is an absolute gamer.
sambooski@Mobinderr
@davehall1289 Has this season changed your view on Cootes in any way?
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@WJCrankings @drewostmoen Would you think him over Caleb Malhotra at #3 makes sense for the Canucks?
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@drewostmoen Agreed! and neither are better all-around players than him as of today
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@ThomasDrance @kaitalkscanucks Benson wasn’t great on a bad sabres team however, while Willander struggled on a bad Canucks team
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@kaitalkscanucks In other words, you might absolutely be right, but we should have confidence that Benson is going to be a top of the lineup fixture in his prime, where Willander’s range of possible outcomes is still v wide.
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Benson is great, he would have been a great Canuck. But Willander is also great. High character, high compete, loads of skill and speed. Check in on both players in 5 years and I think they’ll both be having great careers.
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Quinn Hughes changed the Wild. Now he needs to lead them back vs Avalanche.
“A lot of people haven't had the experiences I've had. Not everyone's been a captain in a CDN market at a young age. I feel comfortable with who I am, know what I can bring.” sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/he…
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@KawhiElite Savoie had more goals than Necas did a rookie. Thinking you know what Savoie will be now is quite the take.
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@ShyPatty11 @MikeGrinnell_ Wait until you find out how many years Quinn had when he was traded…
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@Nbulger92 @MikeGrinnell_ Having two more years of control, comes with a price
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Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers, and 2 1sts to Toronto for Auston Matthews
Chris Johnston@reporterchris
New, for @TheAthletic: Auston Matthews isn't yet sure if he'll be back in Toronto next season. The Maple Leafs are on the clock with their captain 🔗⬇️ nytimes.com/athletic/72539… nytimes.com/athletic/72539…
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@Nbulger92 @MikeGrinnell_ Quinn Hughes is FAR more valuable than Matthews
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@Nbulger92 Literally one Stanley cup from almost 40 years ago lol. Not sure that’s much of a flex
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There’s all this talk about how Vancouver is the most unlucky cursed franchise, but Calgary can relate:
1) Have never moved up in the draft lottery
2) Have never made a top 3 pick in it’s 46 years of existence
3) Only one top 5 pick in 46 years
Both teams are snake bitten
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@davehall1289 I guess the hope is that the sharks decide they have enough forwards and let stenberg or mckenna fall to the Canucks!
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@Nbulger92 Im a known Reid guy. I think if you are thinking Viggo or even Smits, you could probably trade down a bit.
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For me, you aren’t solving all of your problems by drafting a centre third overall this year.
If Ivar Stenberg is available, you take him and try again in 2027, 2028, 2029.
The 2026 Draft is just Step 1 in a long-term plan. You take the best player available.
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@LeafsLLoser @JFreshHockey Haha maybe.. however their pick next year is Colorados which is likely to be late…all these guys they are drafting are probably going to be trade bait as Auston is on an expiring deal and they’ll likely pull a Canucks and try to keep him around even if he’s one foot out the door
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@LeafsLLoser @JFreshHockey Breaking news: team has cap space as the cap has increased
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@JFreshHockey Do people even realize the Leafs have 15 picks over the next two years? 8 of them being in the first 4 rounds (two 1sts, three 2nds, one 3rd & two 4ths)
The cupboards aren’t empty and they have like 24 million in cap space on top of that. They have a chance to right the ship
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@MapleLeaves34 The dub is much easier than the O and both leagues now aren’t as competitive as they once were.. that said mckenna is dirty
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Gavin McKenna would be getting the McDavid/Matthews/Bedard hype treatment if he stayed in the WHL.
At 17 years old, he had 129 points (41G, 88A) in 56 games for Medicine Hat.
For perspective, Connor McDavid had 99 points in 56 games at 17 years old in the OHL.
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NB retweetledi
Ouch.
Big Head Hockey@bigheadhcky
The Vancouver Canucks draft lottery luck since they were last competitive: 2014 | 6.2% chance to climb - lost, picked #6 2016 | 48.4% chance to climb - lost, picked #5 2017 | 69.3% chance to climb - lost, picked #5 2018 | 39.6% chance to climb - lost, picked #7 2019 | 64.8% chance to climb - lost, picked #10 2021 | 11.1% chance to climb - lost, picked #9 2022 | 1.1% chance to climb - lost, picked #15 2023 | 6.3% chance to climb - lost, picked #11 2025 | 1.1% chance to climb - lost, picked #15 2026 | 44.3% chance to win - lost, picked #3 That's a 98.57% chance that they would have won at least one time across the 10 lotteries.
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@MD_scouting I’m not a prospect expert by any means, I’ve seen carels really high on most lists, why do you have him lower than most?
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@irfgaffar @VCanucksNews Can’t act like the room was fine before lol, clearly the guys they moved out improved the locker room…
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They traded Myers, Garland, Kampf and Reichel. Myers is one of the best teammates out there, Kampf stayed to himself and Reichel was in Abbotsford.
Thomas Drance@ThomasDrance
"It was really bad," says Jim Rutherford of the state of the #Canucks locker room prior to the NHL trade deadline. "The energy and culture in the dressing room in the last five weeks is the best that it's been since I've been here."
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@patersonjeff @VCanucksNews Canucks needed a rebuild during GMJB and opted for a half assed one. Hopefully they’ve learned and take their time with this one and do it properly.
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#Canucks did nothing last summer and went into this season with an untested coach and a flawed roster. They placed hope bets on Filip Chytil and Thatcher Demko staying healthy. Then compounded issues with ill-fitted Lukas Reichel and David Kämpf down the middle. All of that was before Quinn Hughes forced their hand. Decisions like that had to have consequences
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With the loss tonight, Leafs are locked into the No. 5 position heading into the NHL Draft Lottery and have a 41 percent chance of landing a top-5 selection at the draft.
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