Welcome to your 2025 NHL Entry Draft Headquarters right here at Last Word On Sports and Top Shelf Prospects. We have you covered with everything you will need to be ready for the big event. This year’s draft is set to take place on June 27th and 28th, live from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Today, we bring you our Braeden Cootes Scouting Report.
Each day, LWOH will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow our prospect writers Ben Kerr and Chase Windsor, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical draft profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey and Top Shelf Prospects bring it to you. Make us your new headquarters for everything 2025 NHL Draft!
Braeden Cootes has danced around draft rankings this season. North America Central Scouting currently has him listed at #20 amongst North American Skaters. Tony Ferrari of The Hockey News, on the other hand, has him as high as #11. The uncertainty of these rankings can be explained not by my performance, but because his game is more nuanced and projectable than flashy. Cootes has showcased a high-motor, two-way style of play that makes him one of the most reliable and versatile forwards available. Despite not having the elite scoring totals of others in this class, his work ethic, pace, and ability to impact the game in all three zones have kept NHL scouts intrigued.
Braeden Cootes Scouting Report: 2025 NHL Draft #24
Centre – Shoots Right
Born Feb 09, 2007 – Sherwood Park, AB, CAN
Height 6’0″ – Weight 183lbs [183cm|83kg]
Braeden Cootes, a 2025 NHL Draft prospect, excels as a two-way center with relentless hustle & defensive awareness. His leadership & consistent effort make him a top-20 pick, projecting as an elite third-line center with 15-20 goals yearly @SiriusXMNHL @ShaneMalloy #2025nhldraft pic.twitter.com/OLm2sATlyO
— Hockey Prospect Radio on SiriusXM NHL Network (@HpRadio) June 2, 2025
Offence
Cootes’ offensive game isn’t one that will blow people away with massive point totals. It’s built on intelligent reads, aggression, and defining pace. At times, his forecheck rivals that of an army, doing the work of many by himself. Braeden excels at winning puck races and forcing defenders into rushed decisions. His retrieval work is among the best in the class, often creating extended offensive zone time and second-chance opportunities. Once possession has been established, he uses elite vision to identify open teammates, setting them up with ease.
In transition, Cootes can be highly deceptive. He uses quick feet, east-west movement, and inside-lane dangles to generate controlled entries. With that said, it’s not uncommon for Cootes to try too much, leading to turnovers. If Braeden can work on choosing the simple option more often, his offensive totals should increase.
Braeden Cootes is going to make a team real happy at the NHL Draft this summer.
Projected in the 20-25 range, he’s entered my personal Top 15.
Here are some of the best moments on April 1st vs Everett in the WHL Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/rjllWIsTON
— Nathan “Grav” Murdock (@NathanGraviteh) April 23, 2025
This season, as captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds, Cootes put up 63 points in 60 games. Like we said, the points don’t blow you away. It’s important to note, however, that when the situation calls for it, Cootes can step up and show offensive dominance. During Seattle’s playoff run, Braeden had 8 points in six games. He then followed this up with 12 points in 7 games for Team Canada at the U18s. This shows an ability to elevate offensively in high-pressure situations.
Defence
When it comes to the defensive side of the puck, Cootes is one of the most established forwards in this class. He plays with structure, awareness, and intensity in his own zone, consistently supporting his defensemen below the hashmarks and showing strong anticipation on the backcheck. Braeden has great stick details, utilizing them in all zones. He’s not afraid to put his body on the line, pressuring the puck carrier and getting in shooting lanes.
Regardless of Braeden’s efforts, there are areas of this defensive game that could use improvement, particularly in front of his net. Cootes has a tendency to lose body positioning and get pushed out of place. His physical tools allow him to compete in those spaces, but increasing his core strength will help him win more of those battles at the pro level. Additionally, he could benefit from some more faceoff practice, as his percentage sits just around 50 percent.
Captain Braeden Cootes led the way for Team Canada in goals (6) and points (12) at the #U18MensWorlds!@SeattleTbirds | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/S3bCEYgMJK
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 4, 2025
Comparisons and Projection.
The two players that come to mind when watching Cootes are Mikael Backlund (Calgary Flames) and Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers). All three are reliable, two-way pivots who bring leadership, matchup value, and timely offense. Like his comparables, Cootes will most likely never lead his team in scoring, but his ability to impact every facet of the game will make him a key contributor.
Overall, Braeden Cootes projects as a versatile, two-way centre who can play up and down the lineup and contribute in all situations. He’s the type of player coaches will trust in tight games because of his motor, intelligence, and responsible play. If he can improve the few areas of his game that are lacking, Cootes can be an effective second or third-line centre in the NHL. Due to some indecision regarding this player, you could see Cootes’ name called anywhere in the range of 10-30 on Draft Day.
Main photo by: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The post Braeden Cootes Scouting Report: 2025 NHL Draft #24 appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.