Arizona Coyotes top prospect Logan Cooley will be playing in the NHL this season and will be living with a former New York Islander.
After years of what seemed like a never-ending rebuild, the Arizona Coyotes are finally moving in the right direction.
Under the leadership of general manager Bill Armstrong, who just inked a three-year extension on Wednesday after joining the club in 2020, the Coyotes are focused on winning hockey games.
Locking up 25-year-old Clayton Keller to an eight-year extension was by far the most critical move of their offseason.
But another move, which may have come as a surprise to many, was seeing their third overall pick in 2022, Logan Cooley, decide to turn pro rather than return for his sophomore season at the University of Minnesota.
Cooley potted 22 goals with 38 assists in 39 games for Minnesota before signing his entry-level contract on July 27.
There's no question that Cooley can become a No. 1 center in the NHL if developed properly, and a former Islander will try to do his part in helping the 19-year-old get acclimated to the NHL life.
Per PHNX Sports reporter Craig Morgan, Cooley will be living with former NHLer Michael Grabner:
Grabner, who played in the NHL from 2009-2019, finished his career with the Coyotes.
The now 35-year-old spent five of his 11 years in the league as a member of the New York Islanders (2010-2015), as his raw speed is what quickly made him a fan favorite.
Donning the blue and orange for 297 games, Grabner potted 90 goals with 54 assists, including a rookie season where he scored 36 goals, finishing third in the Calder race and earning All-Rookie team honors.
Four years later, Grabner was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs for forwards Carter Verhaeghe and Taylor Beck, defensemen Tom Nilsson and Matthew Finn, along with goaltender Christopher Gibson.
Yes, Verhaeghe, now a star with the Florida Panthers, was an Islander but never got a chance with the big club after two seasons in Bridgeport.
Anyway, back to Cooley.
It's not uncommon to see rookies stay with NHL veterans or recent retirees.
When Mathew Barzal broke in with the Islanders in 2017, veteran Denis Seidenberg took him in.
When John Tavares entered the NHL, he lived with then-Islanders captain Doug Weight.
We shall see how Logan Cooley fares in his first NHL season, but we know he is in good hands with Grabner...as long as Cooley takes out the trash.
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