Biggest Preseason Question: Arizona Coyotes
How High is Logan Cooley’s Ceiling?
The Yotes surprised a lot of people last year (myself included) by not floundering in the league’s basement for most of the season. Under the guidance of second year head coach Andre Tourigny, the Desert Dogs played with more structure and a competitive drive. They also made the most out of a bad situation by going 21-15-5 on home ice while playing in a college barn after being evicted from Gila River Arena thanks to their deadbeat owner’s unwillingness to pay rent on time. Unfortunately they weren’t able to translate that success to the road, winning only 7 games away from ASU’s Mountain America Stadium and finishing well below the playoff line, but they’re a far cry from the perennial punching bag they’ve been since their inception.
The surprises went beyond their home record and led into the off-season, as the Coyotes were able to convince superstar prospect Logan Cooley to leave the University of Minnesota to join the show, after previously committing to stay for one more run at a National Championship. Cooley has all the skill in the world, and if he can translate that to the pro level he should form a formidable duo with last year’s Coyotes scoring leader Clayton Keller and add some much needed starpower to this hardworking squad.
Cooley was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award for the top player in college hockey last year as a freshman. He piled up 22 goals, 38 assists, and 60 points through 39 games with the Golden Gophers, and his creativity with the puck on his stick makes him a threat from anywhere on the ice. The NHL is a completely different league in the NCAA, with a grinding 82 game schedule and top tier talent up and down every opposing lineup, so some growing pains are to be expected. That being said, he’s in a prime position to make a run at the Calder trophy with a far greater supporting cast than betting favorite Connor Bedard, and a coach who is known for getting the most out of young players.
Arizona is hoping Cooley can hit the ground running and establish himself as the top center they’ve desperately needed for years. They’ve built a solid foundation through years of rebuilding, but really need him to provide the elite scoring talent required to compete in a wide open Central Division. If this preseason goal against the Kings is any indication of things to come, we’re in for some exciting times in the desert.
