The Arizona Coyotes may be in trouble as Barrett Hayton is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with an upper-body injury. This injury however could have major implications on rookie center, Logan Cooley. The 2022 third overall pick is currently playing on a line alongside Jason Zucker and Michael Carcone. Now with Hayton out of the lineup longterm, André Tourigny has to consider putting Cooley with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz on the first line. We’ve seen Cooley play with these two forwards on the power and it’s worked out pretty well up to this point. The Coyotes first line is by far their best source for offensive production so having a center who can create for himself and elevate Keller and Schmaltz’s game will be critical. Logan Cooley spoke following the Coyotes 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets. Cooley possesses a tremendous amount of speed on the ice which would be perfect alongside a speedy Keller who both can catch their opponents off guard with their quickness. Another aspect of Cooley’s game that has proven to be valuable is his playmaking. He’ll really be able to help elevate Schmaltz who has a wicked shot and Cooley has the ability to find these kinds of players in open space. While Cooley has started off the season strong, playing on the first line should help the rookie truly breakout into the player that many fans expect him to be. With an increase in minutes and talent level around him, Cooley’s number certainly will go up specifically in the goals department. Maybe playing Cooley with Keller and Schmaltz is not necessarily a long term solution especially when Hayton ultimately returns to the lineup but it’s an experiment that could help boost the potential of all three of these players individual games and the Coyotes offense as a whole.
