Profile
Logan Cooley is an 18 year old, American native. The Pittsburgh-born center is listed at five-foot-10 and 181 pounds. He has played his entire junior hockey career in the United States. Cooley spent his previous two seasons with the United States Development Program under-18 team and the USNTDP Juniors team which played games in the USHL. Next season he is scheduled to attend and play for the University of Minnesota.
In the final 2022 Draft Prospect Rankings, he is ranked second among North American skaters. At the midterm rankings, he ranked second as well.
The Statistics
Logan Cooley began his junior hockey career as a 14 year old a part of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Elite under-14 team. He spent two seasons in this system. Cooley played at each the under-14, under-15, and under-16 levels over this two season period. He totaled 141 points across 122 games played across the three divisions.
Cooley broke into the main part of the United States junior system during the 2020-21 season with the USNTDP Juniors team in the USHL, as well as the under-17 and under-18 U.S. National Teams a part of the USDP. His USNTDP Juniors production – 28 points in 27 games played – in 2020-21 was a slightly better point-per-game pace than Mackie Samoskevich (2021, 24th overall), Tyler Boucher (2021, 10th overall), and Matthew Knies (2021, second round). All of which were older than Cooley that season.
Meanwhile, his total production a part of the USDP that season was fifth-best among 70 skaters. He tallied more points than fellow draftee Cutter Gauthier. Gauthier is being projected as a top-10, maybe even fringe-top five, prospect.
The following year, this past season, Cooley’s production exploded. He participated with both the USNTDP Juniors team in the USHL and under-18 National Team a part of the USDP. His 75 points (27 goals and 48 assists) in only 51 games in the USDP was second-most among 62 skaters. He once again out-totaled Cutter Gauthier. His 1.47 point-per-game figure was better than Trevor Zegras, Matthew Tkachuk, Cole Caufield, and Clayton Keller when they played at the same level.
He also tallied 36 points in 24 games with the USNTDP Juniors team in the USHL. His 1.50 point-per-game figure ranked fourth among 510 skaters this past season. For comparisons sake, this figure was greater than fellow draftees Frank Nazar, Isaac Howard, and Cutter Gauthier. All of which should be first round selections.
Cooley also represented Team USA in the under-18 World Junior Championships and under-20 World Junior Championships. He tallied 10 points in six games during the under-18 tournament.
Cooley’s Scouting Report
Strengths
Logan Cooley is arguably the top playmaker and best complete-offensive player in this draft. He has terrific puck control and stick-handling which helps tremendously in his transition game. His stick-handling is also a large reason why he is such a good passer. He’s extremely creative and does a tremendous job of setting teammates with dangerous opportunities all game. Cooley is a lethal passer.
His skating is another strong suit of his. Like most players at his size, Cooley is a strong skater which helps tremendously with the above mentioned strong transition game. Cooley is also a very confident player, so when he is on the ice he always looks comfortable and does not panic. Another aspect that contributes to that prior mentioned transition game.
Not a lot of people talk about Cooley’s shot, but he has a good one. Even though he’s regarded as a playmaker, Cooley has a very strong wrist shot. Given his smooth-skating and puck-handling abilities, Cooley is able to find high-danger areas from himself in close where he uses this wrist shot to beat goalies.
Weaknesses
As is the case with many projected top-three overall picks, there are not many things to be picky about with Cooley’s game.
An area you can nitpick is a part of his defensive game. He is not a bad defensive player at all, and at the next level has all the needed tools to become more than serviceable in his own end. However, he would be a beneficiary of some strong coaching to help iron out some defensive awareness and consistency issues.
Another part of his game that can be trouble sometimes is his over-comfortability with with the puck. Cooley has a tendency to skate into vulnerable areas because his tremendous puck abilities. This can lead to some turnover issues. However, another part of his game that can be easily addressed with some coaching and exposure at a higher-level.
Of course people are going to bring up his size. Listed at only 181 pounds and below six-foot is certainly going to get some bent out of shape. I’d expect Cooley, like several other young players, to get bigger and stronger with time. Certainly not something that should effect one’s viewpoint on Cooley’s overall game.
Fit With the New Jersey Devils
Several are turned off by Cooley given his position of center. With Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer the Devils look set down the middle. Not so fast. Not only did the Devils play Mercer at the wing some this past season, but you can never have too much center talent.
Furthermore, draft time should involve drafting the best player available rather than for need. There is real arguments to be made Cooley is this draft’s second-best player. Some even have him ranked above Shane Wright. If New Jersey feels the same, Cooley should be the pick even if he plays center.
As for what Cooley can be going forward? The above model shows Cooley’s statistical profile similar to Brayden Schenn, Nathan McKinnon, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, to name a few. As for play-style comparable, a more defensive-sound Brayden Point has been mentioned.
Regardless, Logan Cooley is going to be a very strong top-six, high-level offensive-playmaker at the NHL-level. Whoever drafts him, almost guaranteed – as it should be – within the top-three picks, are going to be ecstatic with the player they get.
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