Raiders acquire Cootes in blockbuster trade with Thunderbirds
The Prince Albert Raiders have acquired 18-year old forward Braeden Cootes from the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Raiders also acquired a 2026 4th round pick, a 2026 6th round pick, and a 2028 2nd round pick (conditional).
In exchange, the Raiders have traded away forward Ethan Bibeau, prospects Knox Burton, Diego Gutierrez, and Tripp Fischer. Seattle also picks up a 2026 1st round pick, a 2026 2nd round pick, a 2027 3rd round pick, and a 2028 1st round pick.
The trade has 12 pieces all together.
Cootes is a first round NHL draft pick, selected by the Vancouver Canucks 15th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. He started the season with the Canucks, but was sent back to the Thunderbirds after three games. Since then, the Sherwood Park, AB product has 23 points (10G-13A) in 17 games with the T-Birds. He is fresh off a World Juniors stint with Team Canada in 2026, where he captured bronze.
“I think he was the best player available in this kind of bedlam time,” general manager Curtis Hunt said in an interview with paNOW. “Obviously it was fun to watch him play for Canada over the last couple of days, scored a beauty in the bronze medal game, which was great to see. It’s really exciting to have him join the group, I think it strengthens our middle as maybe one of the best in the league, and you bring in a leader and a player with great experience. And, to get it done even early is nice, try to get the kids acclimated as quick as possible.”
In 148 career WHL games, Cootes has 122 points (50G-72A). The 6’0, 183lb forward is disciplined as well, logging just 36 career penalty minutes, and just one minor penalty this season.
“I think he’s an elite skater, I think that’s the first thing you’ll see,” Hunt continued. “He’s got a tremendous glide and it takes very few strides to get to full speed, his details are unbelievable. There’s a reason why he started this season in the National Hockey League. It’s about details there, it’s about liability there long before scoring goals, and his details are fantastic.”
Heading to Seattle, Ethan Bibeau played in 81 games as a Raider. He had 24 total points (10G-14A), along with 63 penalty minutes. After missing the start of the 2025-26 campaign, Bibeau logged one goal and three assists in 15 games.
“It’s tough to see Beebs go,” Hunt added. “He’s a quality kid, he battled so hard to get himself healthy. But now that he’s healthy, when the dust settles and he gets into the lineup, he’s going to have that opportunity to move up in the lineup. When you look at our depth in the middle, even before this deal and our depth on the left side, it’s tough to move up. He’s been on that fourth line for us and he’s done a great job killing penalties and done a great job last minute protecting leads and locking things down, but now for him he gets another opportunity. That’s the guy they had pinpointed in our group and so we wish him the best of luck.”
Knox Burton and Diego Gutierrez are 16-year-old prospects, while Tripp Fischer is a 15-year-old prospect.
