Paul Cotter (born November 16, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a forward for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Vegas Golden Knights, who drafted him in 2018 and with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2023, and the New Jersey Devils.
Playing career After playing his draft-eligible season with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and recording 18 goals and 39 points in 51 games, Cotter was selected in the fourth round, 115th overall, by the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2018 NHL entry draft.
Although Cotter began the 2018–19 season with Western Michigan University, he left in November 2018 after appearing in eight games and signed with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), in part because he believed going the major junior route would help him secure an entry-level contract with Vegas. He recorded just one point in his college hockey career, an assist.
During the , Cotter was recalled by the Golden Knights and made his NHL debut on November 9, 2021, against the Seattle Kraken. In a 3–2 victory on November 11, he scored his first NHL goal against Cam Talbot of the Minnesota Wild.
Cotter, as a rookie, spent the entire , on Vegas' roster, ultimately playing 55 regular-season games and recording 13 goals. Vegas would go on to win the Stanley Cup Final; although Cotter did not play any playoff games, he automatically qualified for inscription on the Stanley Cup by playing in over half of Vegas' 82 regular-season games.
On June 29, 2024, Cotter was traded by the Golden Knights to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid.
On July 1, 2026, Cotter signed a one-year, $2.15 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks. In his Canucks debut on September 29, Cotter scored twice, including the overtime-winning goal, in a 6–5 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. He scored twice more and added two assists in his next three games, which earned him the league's third star of the week ending October 4.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2016–17 Brookings Blizzard NAHL 59 28 32 60 103 5 0 2 2 0 2017–18 Lincoln Stars USHL 51 18 21 39 64 7 4 4 8 8 2018–19 Western Michigan University NCHC 8 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2018–19 London Knights OHL 48 9 17 26 25 11 0 0 0 2 2019–20 Chicago Wolves AHL 56 4 5 9 24 — — — — — 2020–21 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 38 5 11 16 18 4 0 1 1 4 2021–22 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 59 20 15 35 62 2 1 1 2 0 2021–22 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 7 2 0 2 6 — — — — — 2022–23 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 55 13 5 18 15 — — — — — 2023–24 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 76 7 18 25 41 — — — — — 2024–25 New Jersey Devils NHL 79 16 6 22 62 5 0 1 1 2 2025–26 New Jersey Devils NHL 79 9 6 15 19 — — — — —NHL totals 296 47 35 82 143 5 0 1 1 2
International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2026 United States WC 8th 8 2 2 4 2Senior totals 8 2 2 4 2
Awards and honors Award Year RefNAHL Central Forward of the Year 2017 Central MVP 2017 All-Central Division Rookie Team 2017 All-Central Division Team 2017 All-Rookie First Team 2017 First All-Star Team 2017 Rookie of the Year 2017 USHL All-Rookie Team 2018 NHL Stanley Cup champion 2023
References
External links