The Vancouver Canucks returned forward Braeden Cootes to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League on Tuesday.
Cootes, 18, appeared in the Canucks’ first three games of the season, averaging 10:47 of ice time with a minus-2 rating.
The 5-foot-11 centre was drafted 15th overall by the Canucks in the 2025 draft.
Cootes captained the Thunderbirds during his draft season in 2024-25, recording 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games pushing his team into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
He added two goals and eight points in six playoff games before his team was eliminated by the Everett Silvertips in the first round.
The Sherwood Park, Alta., native captained Canada at the 2025 under-18 World Championship, recording six goals and 12 points en route to a gold medal. He also represented his country at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in a gold-medal finish.