Braeden Cootes skates in his first NHL game against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Arena on Oct. 9. Photo by Derek Cain / Getty Images

Braeden Cootes’ junior team is trending in the right direction. Article content

Cootes, who was the Vancouver Canucks ’ first-round pick (No. 15 overall) in June’s NHL Draft, is the second-earliest selection from that process with the Seattle Thunderbirds now, what with the Buffalo Sabres sending No. 9 overall choice Radim Mrtka back to the WHL club last Friday. Article content Article content

Mrtka, 18, is a 6-foot-6, 216-pound defenceman from Czechia. He had three goals and 35 points in 42 games with Seattle last season after coming over from Europe partway through the campaign.

With his leadership skills and his strong two-way game, Cootes, 1

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