Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2022 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our Logan Cooley Scouting Report.
The top centre on the US National Team Development Program’s Under-18 squad, Logan Cooley had a fantastic season in Ann Arbor. He scored 27 goals and 48 assists for 75 points in just 51 games. He also made the American team for the World Juniors and picked up one assist in one game before a COVID outbreak has postponed the tournament until the summer. This spring, Cooley played for Team USA at the Under-18 World Championships. He picked up three goals and seven assists for 10 points in six games, helping the Americans to a silver medal. Cooley was named the best forward in the tournament. He was also part of the tournament All-Star Team and a top-three player on Team USA.
Last season, Cooley scored 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 28 games with the Under-17 team. He also put up four goals and 14 points in 19 games with the Under-18 team. Cooley played a lower line role at the Under-18 World Championships, picking up two points in five games.
Cooley is committed to playing NCAA hockey for the University of Minnesota next season. His CHL rights are owned by the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Logan Cooley Scouting Report
Centre — shoots Left
Born May 4th, 2004 — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Height 5’11” — Weight 174 lbs [180 cm/79 kg]
Skating
Cooley is a dynamic skater. He has very good top-end speed and acceleration. He can lead the rush. His ability to change speeds also can be used as a weapon against defenders. Once he gets a step on his man, he can drop the shoulder and cut to the net. Cooley also has outstanding agility and edgework. He can change directions on a dime. This allows him to weave through defenders both with and without the puck. He has good lower-body strength as well. His low centre of gravity gives him good balance and the ability to fight through checks. However, Cooley can still add muscle to his frame. This would help his balance as well as make him stronger on the boards and in battles down low.
Offensive Game
Cooley marries his outstanding skating with excellent puckhandling ability. This allows him to control the puck and make plays off the rush and at top speed. He also is able to control the puck in the offensive zone, speeding up the play or slowing it down as necessary. His patience and poise are combined with outstanding vision. He is able to wait for his teammates to get open and then feather a tape-to-tape pass through a tight passing lane to set up a scoring chance. His lateral mobility and his quick hands also allow Cooley to make quick moves to open up those passing lanes. Cooley’s vision and high-end IQ, allow him to quarterback the powerplay from the half boards.
While Cooley is best known for his playmaking ability, he can also score goals. He has a very good wrist shot. It is powerful and accurate. He also has a lightning-quick release that can fool goaltenders. His soft hands also allow him to score in close, pouncing on rebounds, banging in a pass from a teammate, deflecting in a shot, or deking the goalie. Cooley is a creative player who will try a between the legs pass or other fancy move that others wouldn’t dream of. He even pulled off “the Michigan” or a lacrosse-style goal at the Under-18s.
Defensive Game
Cooley’s defensive game is just as good as his offensive game. He can match up against top lines and play in all situations. Cooley’s smart positioning and quick stick help him to cut down passing lanes and steal pucks. When he gets the puck, he is able to quickly transition to offence. His smart positioning forces opponents to the outside and away from good shooting areas. He is dedicated on the backcheck and supports the defence down low. His hockey IQ also shows itself in his own end as he anticipates plays and cuts them off. The only issue is size as Cooley will need to get stronger to contain big forwards in the cycle and win battles on the boards. He is also very good in the faceoff circle.
Projection and Comparison
Right now it appears that Cooley is headed to the NCAA to play for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. However, he is close to NHL ready and it would not be surprising to see the team who drafts him try and get Cooley to sign a pro contract and come straight to the NHL. He is very close to NHL ready. Even if he does go the NCAA route, he could sign with his NHL club when the college season ends and get in a few games. Cooley has the potential to be a top-line NHL Centre and be used in all situations. His game is comparable to Brayden Point, however, this is just a stylistic comparison and not one based on skill and ability.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Logan Cooley that are available on youtube and twitter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzmPf8IDylo&list=PLOgBIUfkk2BNaLOIRXPDBwcVTzULih8Ph
Should Logan Cooley go 1st overall?
"Probably"-mepowered by InStat pic.twitter.com/4oxwTFvU3p
— Derek Lee (@DLee075) May 1, 2022
Logan Cooley, a Pittsburgh native who could be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, is a bad man… pic.twitter.com/0O8MZXmeXW
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) April 28, 2022
Logan Cooley sets up Cutter Gauthier and it's 5-0 USA. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/6oLQ6ZDb4T
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) April 26, 2022
Check back tomorrow for our next draft article.
Logan Cooley Scouting Report Main Photo:
PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 17: Logan Cooley #18 of Team White passes the puck against Seamus Powell #2 of Team Blue in the second period of the USA Hockey All-American Game at USA Hockey Arena on January 17, 2022 in Plymouth, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
