Logan Cooley has just decided where he will play next year

Arizona Coyotes third overall pick Logan Cooley will be representing the United States at the World Junior Championship this week and after the tournament he will be heading to the University of Minnesota for his first NCAA season. As a result, he will not be playing for the Coyotes next fall.

Don't expect him to be at the University for very long, however. In an interview at the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp, Cooley said he hopes to suit up for the Arizona Coyotes after the end of the NCAA season, which is usually in late March, early April. This will allow him to play a few games in the NHL at the end of the campaign. A technique used last season by Owen Power, the Sabres' first overall pick in 2021.

Cooley says he understands how hard it is to make it in the NHL, but believes a season of college hockey will go a long way in preparing him.


The 18-year-old forward, spent the 2021-2022 season with the U.S. U-18 National Team Development Program where he recorded 75 points (27 goals, 48 assists), accumulated 67 penalty minutes and finished with a plus-38 rating in 51 games.

Via NHL.com