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    Adam Kierszenblat
    Jan 6, 2026, 23:55
    Updated at: Jan 6, 2026, 23:55

    Braeden Cootes is on his way to Prince Albert.

    The Prince Albert Raiders have pulled off a blockbuster trade as they have acquired Braeden Cootes from the Seattle Thunderbirds. Prince Albert also acquired a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2026 sixth-round pick and a conditional second-round pick in 2028. In exchange for Cootes, the Raiders received Ethan Bibeau, Knox Burton, Diego Gutierrez, Tripp Fischer, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick.

    Cootes is a Vancouver Canucks draft pick who started the season in the NHL. This season, he has 10 goals and 23 points in 17 games. Cootes recently played at the 2026 World Juniors, where he picked up a Bronze Medal for Canada. 

    As for the players coming back to Seattle, Bibeau is the only one of the four currently in the WHL. The 19-year-old has five goals in 15 games so far this season. Over his career, Bibeau has 25 points in 81 games and has played in 11 post-season games for Prince Albert. 

    Braeden Cootes of the Seattle Thunderbirds (Photo Credit: Brian Liesse/Seattle Thunderbirds/WHL)

    As for the other three players, Burton is a 16-year-old forward playing in the MJHL. As for Gutierrez, he is a 16-year-old defenceman who is currently with the US National Development Team. Lastly, Fischer is a 15-year-old forward who is currently playing in the AEHL U18. 

    Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.   

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