Canucks’ young players learning through team’s rebuild

Canucks’ young players learning through team’s rebuild GEMMA KARSTENS-SMITH PENTICTON, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO Open this photo in gallery: Vancouver Canuck Braeden Cootes looks on during the opening day of the team's training camp, in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday. DARRYL DYCK/THE CANADIAN PRESS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. Braeden Cootes is getting used to living out of a suitcase. The 19-year-old centre knows it’s up to him to prove that he deserves a spot in the Vancouver Canucks’ lineup. And until the team makes a decision on where he’ll play this season, Cootes will be calling a hotel near Rogers Arena home. He’s taking the living situation day by day, but has unpacked his clothes, knowing his stay could be lengthy. “I don’t like to get things too wrinkled,” he said. “I’m not a very good folder or anything like that. So I do put it in the closet. I try to be clean.” The opportunity to earn a place on an NHL roster is worth an extended hotel stay, Cootes added. “There’s no place I’d rather be, that’s for sure,” he said. “I’m not complaining.” The Canucks are turning to their young talent as they launch into a rebuild this season. Cootes is one of 12 players 21 years old and younger that the team brought to training camp in Penticton, B.C., this week. Vancouver has other prospects in the system, too, including Caleb Malhotra, who the team selected third overall in June’s draft. The 18-year-old centre isn’t at training camp as he starts his freshman year at Boston University. Head coach Manny Malhotra – Caleb’s dad – knows many of the up-and-coming players in camp this week are eager to impress, and cautioned that he and his staff don’t want to get “star struck” by a short-term performance. Open this photo in gallery: Vancouver Canucks' defenceman Zeev Buium skates during the opening day of training camp in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday. DARRYL DYCK/THE CANADIAN PRESS “Obviously, with the quality of players around them, they’re going to do a lot of good things,” he said. “But the mindset being, it’s not about just right now and making a team. We’re looking toward the future. What’s that player look like in two or three or four years? And where are they best suited to develop that game to be ready in that time frame?” The Canucks want to be patient with their prospects, with general manager Ryan Johnson telling…