Coyotes prospect Logan Cooley showing superstar potential on electric Golden Gophers top line

The day before, Cooley picked up five points in a single period to help propel the Gophers to a 7–2 win over Penn State. The 18-year-old now leads all Minnesota skaters — and ranks fourth in the nation — with 44 points in 31 games this season.

The only freshman with more points than Cooley this season is Michigan Wolverines forward Adam Fantilli, who is widely expected to go in the 2–4 range at the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft. Behind Cooley on the NCAA scoring leaderboard: Luke Hughes, Matt Coronato, Lane Hutson, Cutter Gauthier, Mackie Samoskevich, etc, etc, etc.

The Arizona Coyotes surprised many when they went with Cooley at the No. 3 spot, with Shane Wright still on the board, at the 2022 NHL Draft. Wright went to the Seattle Kraken with the very next pick, inextricably linking the two prospects for years to come.

Top-line centers are among the most valuable commodities in the NHL. The Coyotes haven’t had a bona fide No. 1 center for more than 20 years, not since they lost Jeremy Roenick to the Philadelphia Flyers as an unrestricted free agent in 2001. And despite all their attempts to draft a replacement in the years since, they haven’t been able to find one.

Martin Hanzal, Phoenix’s 2005 first-round pick, topped out at 40 points in a season with the Coyotes. Peter Mueller scored 54 points as a rookie but subsequently suffered a string of injuries that limited his impact. Neither Kyle Turris nor Dylan Strome ever found a good rhythm in the desert. Barrett Hayton has shown promise in a top-line role this season but likely tops out as a No. 2 or a No. 3 going forward.

The Coyotes will have a shot at landing Connor Bedard through the lottery this season (although, on the basis of their current eight-game point streak, their odds at the No. 1 pick might be longer than expected). Failing that, Cooley will likely be the Coyotes’ cornerstone center as they progress in their current rebuild. He finished second to Bedard in scoring at the 2022 World Juniors, after all.

Given his current NCAA production, Cooley has as good a chance as any to turn into a special player at the next level.

Cooley won’t turn 19 until May 4. He needs just six more points this season to reach 50 as a freshman, which would put him in some pretty impressive company. Before this year, the last 18-year-old freshman to even score 45 points in a season was Clayton Keller, who did so in 31 games with Boston University way back in 2016–17.

Kyle Connor and Brock Boeser are the only NCAA freshmen to eclipse 50 points in their draft-plus-one seasons in the last 10 years. Jack Eichel, who is more of a Fantilli comparable, scored 71 points in 40 games as a 17-year-old with B.U. in 2014–15. Cooley is encroaching upon rarified airspace.

Cooley should have plenty of support in Arizona when he decides to turn pro, whether that call is made at the end of this season or at some other point in the future. He could find himself on a line with Keller, who is on pace to become the first Coyotes player to score 30 goals since Radim Vrbata in 2012. Nick Schmaltz and Lawson Crouse are productive veterans on long-term deals.

But the more intriguing aspect is the wave of young talent slated to accompany Cooley as he arrives in the desert. Playmaking winger Matias Maccelli could get Calder Trophy votes this year. Dylan Guenther will be back in the NHL next season after an encouraging debut stint in Arizona. Hayton, Conor Geekie, Jack McBain, and Josh Doan have all shown promise at their respective levels.

What the Coyotes really need, above all else, is a superstar center. Those are almost exclusively available at or near the top of the draft. Cooley is a Pittsburgh product who grew up watching Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. He knows what an elite NHL center looks like — once he signs, can he become one himself?

For now, Cooley has some schoolwork to finish. He’ll be relied upon for more offense as Minnesota takes on Ohio State for a doubleheader on Feb. 24 and 25. Beyond that, expect Cooley to play a big role as the Gophers challenge for their first National Championship since 2003.

From there, NHL stardom awaits.