Despite returning to the University of Minnesota for his second season, Logan Cooley is still committed to playing for the Arizona Coyotes in the future.

Logan Cooley is committed to playing for the Arizona Coyotes.

While the third overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft is expected to return to the University of Minnesota for his second season in the NCAA, Cooley cleared up that his plan is still to play for the Coyotes in the future.

“It’s not my goal to stay in college for four years and become a free agent, that’s for sure,” Cooley said via PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan. “There’s definitely nothing to that. I don’t want to get traded or anything like that.

“Obviously, when you go back to school, everyone’s gonna start speculating about you doing one thing or the other, but no, I’m just focused on becoming a better player and playing for the Coyotes.”

The 19-year-old center had 22 goals, 38 assists and 60 points in 39 NCAA games. He also helped lead Minnesota to the national championship game where they ultimately lost 3-2 in overtime to Quinnipiac and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the best men’s collegiate hockey player.

The Coyotes' failed arena bid in Tempe may have played a small factor in Cooley’s decision to return to college for another year but he made clear that it was not the driving factor.

“It wasn’t only that,” Cooley said. “I’m pretty sure everyone would have liked to see that go through. It was such a beautiful arena that they were supposed to be building, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t really change much. Ice is ice.

“There’s still some things I want to accomplish in college before I make the step to the NHL. I’d say the arena played a little factor, but it wasn’t do or die like I’m not coming or anything like that. It’s more that there’s some things I want to accomplish in my game and obviously, falling short of the national championship is one of them because we got so close so it was pretty unfortunate.”

It's puzzling to Cooley why his decision to play at Minnesota for this upcoming season drew so much attention as many great NHL players in the past also chose to play in the NCAA for two years. Cooley feels that another season in college will help fully prepare him for professional hockey.

“Cale Makar played two years of college. Matt Boldy played two years. Matty Beniers played two years,” Cooley said. “I’m sure some guys are ready after year one, but when I step into the league I don’t just want to be ready. I want to be an impactful player. I want to be as prepared as possible.”

Cooley is in Arizona this week for the team’s prospect development camp and is even expected to throw out the first pitch at the Arizona Diamondbacks game on Thursday.

It's hard to wait on a player with so much talent but with Cooley, the wait will be well worth it for Coyotes fans.