To start his rookie season, it’s been a rollercoaster ride for Arizona Coyotes forward Logan Cooley to say the least. He’s played multiple different roles and has already switched lines a few times in search to find the right spot for him to truly thrive. In 33 games, Cooley has three goals, 14 assists and 17 points. Let’s look at Cooley’s individual game beyond just the stats. The 19-year-old flashes off his impressive speed throughout each game, showing his strong ability to move with the puck on his stick. 20231223_PostGame_Tourigny_FTP It’s truly remarkable to watch Cooley when he has open space. He is capable of becoming an All-Star caliber player due to his impressive skating and raw talent. It really is just the little things that Cooley needs to clean up. He possesses tremendous speed but is still reckless with the puck at times committing turnovers. The plays that he may be able to get away with in college sometimes don’t work in the NHL, so it seems that the 19-year-old is still getting adjusted to the NHL level which is normal as he is not even halfway done his rookie campaign. In order to unlock his true potential, Cooley will have to be more careful as a puck handler, learn how to play without the puck on his stick and focus on improving defensively. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P_XWdg1JlY[/embed] Being a two-way center is valuable in the NHL today and it’s not all about raw skill and speed. Once Cooley is reliable at both ends of the ice, coach André Tourigny will trust him more which will only increase his minutes. For fans still anxiously waiting for Cooley to hit his stride, give him time and be patient because he has all the tools and now it’s about putting everything together and that will happen eventually.
