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.
"How hard it is to carve out a spot in the NHL, how hard the guys are working and how much stronger I need to get," Cooley (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) admitted. A season in the college ranks could help me a lot. I need to continue to develop and then I think I'll be ready."
"Of course, I want to play in the NHL sooner rather than later," Cooley said. I've had a chance to talk to Bill Armstrong a little bit. But it's all going to be determined by the season I have and the performance I put up, and then the rest will follow." - Logan Cooley
"Of course, I want to play in the NHL sooner rather than later," Cooley said. I've had a chance to talk to Bill Armstrong a little bit. But it's all going to be determined by the season I have and the performance I put up, and then the rest will follow." - Logan Cooley
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
| POLL | ||
AOUT 8 | 275 ANSWERS Logan Cooley has just decided where he will play next year Who will have the better career? | ||
| Wright | 123 | 44.7 % |
| Cooley | 152 | 55.3 % |
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