**Title: Canucks' Braeden Cootes Faces Challenges in NHL Debut**

The Vancouver Canucks opened their season with a decisive 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday. The game showcased the team's potential and set the stage for their upcoming match against the Edmonton Oilers.

Rookie head coach Adam Foote expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, particularly their ability to keep pace with the aggressive Flames without getting drawn into a physical confrontation. Center Filip Chytil stood out, scoring two goals, including a breakaway, and demonstrating a strong presence on the ice. "He was good and fast and wanted the puck on his stick," Foote said, noting Chytil's five shots and eight attempts.

Goaltender Thatcher Demko also played a crucial role, remaining calm and effective as the Flames attempted to mount a comeback. The Canucks' penalty kill was impressive, successfully defending all four of Calgary's power plays, although the power play unit struggled, failing to score on their own four opportunities. "Demmer was just solid," Foote remarked. "He was a wall with his confidence."

Rookie Braeden Cootes made his NHL debut and faced significant attention from the Flames. He experienced some physical play and verbal exchanges, which highlighted the intensity of the game. "We didn’t give him enough ice early, but he’s a young guy and plays the same way and that’s impressive," Foote said, referring to Cootes' 11:14 of ice time without a shot but with notable game awareness. Cootes reflected on his debut, stating, "It was pretty cool. You kind of black out for a second and try to take it all in. It was awesome. The boys played really good. It was more physical and intense, and they (Flames) have a pretty heavy team. I just tried to play my game and be confident not let it rattle me at all."

Looking ahead to their next game against Edmonton, Foote noted areas for improvement. "When it was close early, we pushed too much at times and struck too quickly. We were forcing too much," he said.

The Canucks are also facing challenges with their penalty kill unit. With Teddy Blueger injured, Pius Suter leaving in free agency, and Dakota Joshua traded, the team is looking to maintain its strong performance from last season, where they finished third overall with an 82.6 percent efficiency rating. Kiefer Sherwood and Drew O’Connor formed one penalty kill unit, while Aatu Raty and Arshdeep Bains made up another.

Sherwood emphasized the importance of teamwork in penalty killing, stating, "It’s structure and a good active stick is really important. We have really good killers on the back end, who aren’t just shot blockers, but have good reads and experience. It’s just reading off each other. You’ve got to be cohesive."

The Canucks have made significant strides since a difficult 2021-22 season, where they struggled with a 63.8 percent kill rate. Former player Jason Dickinson recalled the toll it took on him, saying, "Honestly, I didn’t sleep very well after the game because right there, that was the difference. If we’re able to get those kills, we’re looking at a different game."

This season, the Canucks have shown promise, starting with a 79.1 percent kill rate and a strong pre-season performance. Sherwood added, "I love it. It’s an opportunity to grow your game in different areas and steal momentum and energy. It gives the guys extra juice. It’s the next-man-up mentality."

In other news, the Canucks had shown interest in unrestricted free agent Jack Roslovic, who recently signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Roslovic, who can play both center and right wing, was seeking a more lucrative contract but ultimately settled for a smaller cap hit. The Oilers may look to utilize him alongside star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, potentially boosting his performance after a challenging playoff history.

As the Canucks prepare for their next game, they will aim to build on their opening victory and address the areas needing improvement.