After an outstanding 2022-23 season in the NCAA, Arizona Coyotes prospect Logan Cooley is expected to return to the University of Minnesota for another year
The Arizona Coyotes made a big splash in the 2022 NHL Draft selecting centerman Logan Cooley.
The Pittsburgh native was known for his blazing speed and incredible offensive skill set coming into the draft.
“Cooley’s explosiveness is perhaps his most noticeable trait when speaking about his skating ability,” USHL and OHL Ametuer Scout Paul Zuk wrote about Cooley prior to the 2022 draft. “He’s able to make a couple of quick, powerful strides in transition, and he absolutely flies through the neutral zone and around defenders. Being only 5’10 and 174 lbs., this characteristic bodes incredibly well for his development at the next level.
“As we’ve seen with players such as Jonathan Marchessault and Brayden Point, the smaller, faster centers are becoming more and more dynamic in the modern-NHL. Cooley is certainly on track to be one of the next generation of talented, somewhat undersized players to eventually become household names.”
Not only does Cooley have a chance to be a truly transcendent player but also has the ability to elevate the Coyotes to new heights if he reaches his full potential.
The question is where does Cooley play now and when will he begin his career with the Coyotes?
Cooley played in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota Gophers this past season where he was outstanding. The 19-year-old phenom tallied 22 goals, 38 assists and 60 points in 39 games. Cooley helped lead Minnesota all the way to the Frozen Four Championship Game where they ultimately lost 3-2 in overtime at the hands of the Quinnipiac Bobcats.
Cooley was named a Hobey Baker finalist, an award given annually to the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player. He was also named USA Hockey’s national college player of the year.
Despite looking NHL ready, Cooley will return to Minnesota for another year feeling that it will better help him develop into a stronger player that is more prepared to make the jump from collegiate to professional hockey.
“Both options are great but I felt I had a little more left to do in college hockey. … I still feel like I have room to grow,” Cooley told PHNX reporter Craig Morgan.
“After one more season of college hockey, I think I’ll be even more prepared to make the jump.”
While it may be frustrating for Coyotes’ fans to be forced to wait another year for Cooley to enter the NHL, he should benefit from this decision. Rushing a prospect into uncomfortable situations is never the right solution. The Coyotes’ organization and fans just have to be patient with Cooley as he continues to develop.