Paul Cotter aims to earn bigger role with Canucks after signing as free agent

The Story

Penticton, B.C. — Paul Cotter believes the Vancouver Canucks are building toward the future with the right mix of talent and leadership, and he is positioning himself as a key connector inside a roster expected to continue evolving quickly.

Cotter, an American winger, signed with the rebuilding club as a free agent in July and has spent recent weeks getting to know teammates at training camp in Penticton. Speaking at camp, the 26-year-old forward said the organization’s current group appears “very hungry,” with what he described as a balance of experienced guidance and young skilled players.

He suggested the team’s direction could surprise outside observers and said he would prefer to be an underdog rather than among the middle of the pack. Cotter linked that mindset to what he sees as an organization focused on long-term progress rather than short-term results.

Entering his sixth NHL season, Cotter arrives in Vancouver with a track record that includes time with both the Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils. The Canton, Michigan, native has played 296 regular-season games, scoring 47 goals and adding 35 assists, and he won a Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023.

Last season, Cotter appeared in 79 games for New Jersey, tallying nine goals and six assists while averaging 10:41 in ice time. He said he spent the summer working on details of his game, including how he can complement skilled scorers around him in Vancouver.

Cotter specifically referenced the chance to line up with Vancouver’s high-end talent such as Brock Boeser, Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson. He indicated that to play effectively alongside those players, he needs to take a “next step” in his own game, with the focus on improving areas he views as foundational to becoming a higher-impact contributor.

Describing that development, Cotter said he has been told by coaches including Bruce Cassidy and Sheldon Keefe that he has the tools to be a standout player, but that progress also depends on when to apply different elements of his skill set. He pointed to the difference between using physicality at the right times and choosing when to rely on skill and pace by keeping plays simple, including “just put the puck in.”

He framed that growth as both a performance and role issue, saying he has been crafting an off-ice function as well. Cotter described his goal as serving as “the glue” between veteran players and incoming young talent, a role he said is especially important during a rebuild where older players can model habits while younger players absorb and apply them.

In Cotter’s view, the most valuable roster balance is one where veterans teach—through example in areas such as preparation and training—while players still in the early stages of their development are willing to work and watch. He also said players like himself, who can handle both ends of that spectrum, can help bridge the group and communicate across generations.

During camp, Cotter said he has been learning teammates’ tendencies and preferences, including where players like to receive the puck and how they want opponents to respond after a mistake. He also described using small routines to keep practices energetic, saying he makes a point of joking and knowing each player’s middle name or nickname, while still committing to high intensity during drills.

Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra said Cotter has fit in well and has been picking up the team’s concepts. Malhotra noted that some of the drills and tactics could be new, given Cotter’s new environment and new teammates, but said Cotter has integrated quickly on the ice and is “getting in line” with the group.

Vancouver’s schedule adds immediate context to Cotter’s camp comments. The Canucks are set to open the 2025-26 season on Sept. 29 against the Edmonton Oilers in Edmonton, placing their early preparations squarely on display as the new lineup settles into roles.