Logan Cooley // 2022 Scouting Report No1
Logan Cooley, C, U.S. National Team
5’10” 174lbs.
14 G, 16 A, 30 P, 20 GP
Commitment: Notre Dame
(Stats as of: 12/20/21)
Skating - 9/10
Cooley is an electric skater. His combination of elusiveness, and his ability to accelerate quickly makes him a constant threat anywhere on the ice, especially in transition, and during breakouts. He is also very explosive. Cooley can make quick cuts, and turns in order to create space for himself, and others which is a big reason why he’s so deadly when he gets in open ice. You can’t contain him. Cooley is also extremely good at using the space he creates for himself to his advantage. His skating allows him to always be in motion, and find ways to attack the net. Cooley’s skating is the reason why he can use his skill so effectively, and isn’t stuck as just a Conor Geekie, or Rutger McGroarty type of player, (no knock on them, great players in their own aspects).
Skill - 9.2/10
Cooley is in a class of his own when he has the puck on his stick. He uses his constant motor to wheel around the offensive zone, and to create open space for himself to go to work. He can make quick moves, and is extremely shifty. He is great at judging the play, and deciding what to do with the puck. He uses his quick hands to turn defenders inside out, which helps him on his way to creating scoring chances a ton. He can stickhandle in a phone booth, and has a great in-tight area game. He thinks outside the box, not nearly at a Trevor Zegras level, but certainly similar to how he utilizes it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18NY1RU3Sbag8-I5lE5i_FHybZNuV-wHi/view?usp=drivesdk
Nifty Goal versus Mercyhurst
Scoring - 9.8/10
Logan Cooley is a prolific scorer, and as of now probably, the best in the draft class. Although a pretty hot take, especially being in a draft class featuring players such as Matt Savoie, Shane Wright, and Brad Lambert that are definitely challenging him for that title, as of now he takes the cake. The manner in which he gets his points really separates him. He has a hockey IQ that’s through the roof, and thinks outside the box. He’s almost always a step ahead of the play. Cooley uses his wheels and hands to make quick, shifty moves past his defenses. Once he gains possession of the puck in the offensive zone, good luck. He’s great at finding open teammates, and is just as good as putting the puck in the net. I’ve already said it, and I’m not saying he is, but he reminds me of Trevor Zegras, especially when he has the puck, and when he’s trying to get it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gSmv5yUh7jXakfvY5LlV3DbzjZi3e_UK/view?usp=drivesdk
Goal versus Finland
Defensive Game - 8.8/10
Cooley is a great defender, especially for someone that has the skill that he does. Usually in a player like himself- who’s an offensive dynamo- you don’t get great defenders out of them. For Cooley that’s not the case. He’s a hard worker, and can play well on the penalty kill when given the chance. What actually creates a lot of his chances is his non stop pursuit of the puck. He’s a good forechecker, and has an everlasting motor. Even if he just focused on this for his entire NHL career, he’d be a great high energy guy you could place on your third line that could produce, and shutdown top lines. He ounces in loose pucks, and creates off of them. Even with all of this being said, of course, he has hiccups. He sometimes will chase breakouts when they haven’t fully developed, and on rare occasions will take himself out of the play. But you have to nitpick. He’s without a doubt one of the best defensive forwards in the class when you just focus on that.
Overall - 9.2
Cooley, overall, is a great prospect to dissect. He has all the intangibles, and a great skill set. He has tricks up his sleeve, but is a very capable player without the puck. To put it simply, he’s a coach's dream, and someone that is good at everything. I’d say his projected draft spot will be between pick no. 2, and pick no. 5. I don’t think he’ll pass Shane Wright as for the moment, but I think it’s a possibility. Especially since he is a jack of all trades, which is something Wright really isn’t.
Play Style:
Creative
Two way
Scorer
PLAYER COMPARISON: TREVOR ZEGRAS, ANAHEIM DUCKS
Zegras, and Cooley are completely different without the puck, but with the puck are very similar. At the least, they share the same mind, which is something that is very exciting for NHL teams in position to get him. Zegras is creative, and thinks outside the box, which is similar to how Cooley operates with the puck. He tries to get past defenders with moves they won’t think that’ll be thought of. They can score goals, and create chances for their teammates. Maybe I just love these two players too much, and I’m just being extremely biased, but it’s hard to say they don’t have some major similarities. If you really want to be exact, lastwordonsports.com compared him to Conor Garland.
www.drteescouting.com