Archive: Dynamic Youngster Cooley Set to Continue Rise as Member of Utah Hockey Club

The Utah Hockey Club is nurturing a wealth of emerging NHL talent. In a prominent feature from The Hockey News’ May 23, 2022 edition (Volume 75, Issue 15), writer Jared Clinton spotlighted top prospect Logan Cooley. (Reminder: for access to THN’s exclusive archive, visit http://THN.com/Free and subscribe to our magazine.) Cooley had an impressive rookie NHL season in 2023-24, scoring 20 goals and 44 points in 82 games with the Arizona Coyotes. The 20-year-old center, the Coyotes’ first-round pick (third overall) in 2022, demonstrated flashes of brilliance this past season, and high expectations are set for him, especially now that the franchise has moved to Utah. Those who watched him rise through the elite prospect ranks say his creativity and vision set him apart. “That’s what always amazed me – OK, I remember (Cooley’s) goal, but how did that goal get set up?” said Brian Mueller, who coached Cooley’s under-16 team. “There were so many times where it was like, ‘Holy cow, he set that goal up 10 seconds before we actually scored.’ It’s those subtle little plays that, if he didn’t make or see the play before it happened, would have killed the play.

That’s where I truly appreciated what he does and can do.” Now that Cooley has established himself as a genuine NHL scoring threat, expectations for him will increase. However, the Pittsburgh native seems well-prepared for the pressures of playing in hockey’s top league, and his all-around game makes him a formidable young star. “When the draft comes, teams will make decisions on players, and really the decision is, how can this guy help us win a Stanley Cup?” said Adam Nightingale, who coached Cooley in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. “Logan is one of those players. If I’m a team making a decision, I definitely think when you watch him play, this is a guy that helps us win because he plays a full 200 feet.”

COOL HAND LOGAN

By Jared Clinton

The Invisible Gorilla experiment, conducted by Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris in 1999, is a seminal study on inattentional blindness, which is the failure to notice something in plain sight. They created a 24-second video where two teams, one in black shirts and one in white, passed a basketball while moving around. Participants were asked to count the number of passes made by the team in white. Most participants accurately counted 15 passes, but about half missed seeing a person in a gorilla suit walk through the scene. When rewatching the video, the gorilla becomes obvious, demonstrating how focused attention can cause people to miss unexpected objects.

This phenomenon is analogous to watching Logan Cooley’s game tape, according to Brian Mueller, the executive director of hockey development and programming for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program. Mueller coached Cooley on the U-16 team in 2019-20 and often only appreciated Cooley’s brilliance when reviewing game footage. Cooley’s subtle plays, which set up goals well in advance, were often unnoticed in real-time but became apparent upon closer inspection. Mueller, along with others who have coached Cooley, highlight his exceptional hockey IQ.

 

Adam Nightingale, head coach of the U-18 squad for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP), and Brent Darnell, a former NTDP assistant coach, both emphasize Cooley’s smart play. Cooley’s hockey intelligence may be partly genetic, as he comes from a family with a strong hockey background, including two uncles who were Division I players and three cousins who played elite hockey. Additionally, his development was shaped by competing against his older brothers, who pushed him to improve his skills and outsmart opponents.

Cooley’s dedication to developing a well-rounded game has made him a 200-foot threat. Initially relying on his offensive talents, Cooley adapted to NTDP’s demands for defensive responsibility. He quickly learned from coaches, studied elite players like Patrice Bergeron, and improved his defensive play, contributing to his rise in draft rankings from a likely top-10 pick to a projected top-three selection. His ability to play a complete game makes him highly appealing to NHL teams.

Despite modeling his game after offensive stars like Clayton Keller and Patrick Kane, Cooley’s humility and team-first mentality stand out. Coaches praise his character, noting his low-ego and respectfulness. Cooley admits to occasionally checking prospect rankings but remains grounded, focusing on his love for hockey and support from his family to manage the pressure of being a top prospect.

Cooley’s story is one of talent, hard work, and strong character, making him a player to watch in the NHL draft and beyond.