When Logan Cooley went home to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the summer, he had to make some adjustments to his childhood bedroom.
While bits and pieces of his hockey memorabilia remained, it was time to say goodbye to the Alexander Ovechkin Fathead life-size decal pasted to his wall.
“I took that down now. I thought it was getting a little bit weird,” Cooley said.
Cooley, after all, is a pro now. The 20-year-old center made his NHL debut in the 2023-24 season for the Arizona Coyotes and found his footing in the latter half of his rookie season and finished the year with 44 points — 20 goals, 24 assists — through 82 games. Now, he’s a key piece of the future of Utah Hockey Club.
Coming into his sophomore showing, Cooley is determined to level up his play, and he put in the work this summer to do so.
“I think this past summer has been the best summer I’ve had,” Cooley said.
New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck reacts after scoring against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, in New York. The Rangers won 5-3. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The University of Minnesota product practiced alongside NHL veterans — namely New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck and Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller — throughout the offseason at Baierl Ice Complex in Pittsburgh.
Trocheck, like Cooley, is a Pittsburgh native; he’s climbed the ranks in the NHL as a gritty, hard-nosed center with undeniable scoring and play-making ability. Cooley collected some tips and tricks from Trocheck, specifically his forehand sweep at the face-off dot and leaning on his speed on both sides of the puck.
“He’s one of the best, most well-rounded centers in the league in my opinion,” Cooley said of Trocheck. “I just remember being a little kid and kind of always hearing about that name, and now to finally get to learn a few things and compete in practice with him, it’s pretty cool.”
Going into the summer, Cooley wanted to focus on his shot and being a two-way player. After taking two to three weeks off after last season ended, he got back into training at home, skating four times a week. Plus, he got to enjoy home-cooked meals and some golf outings with his brothers — a pretty productive few months.
“He’s a worker, that’s what he is. He’s obsessed with the game,” Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said of Cooley. “I think the expectation for him is [to be] somebody that can add in the offense, really push the pace and help our team be unique.”
On a normal summer training day, Cooley would skate from 7:50 a.m. to 9 a.m., work out off the ice for an hour, do a cool down — usually stretches or a cold tub — and finish the session with shooting.
Arizona Coyotes' Logan Cooley (92) shoots past Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Murphy (5) and Isaak Phillips (41) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Beyond the technicalities of his game and learning what it takes to survive and thrive at the NHL level, Cooley said one of the most important things he gained from his rookie season was how to take care of his body. Going from a 34-game NCAA schedule to an 82-game professional schedule that includes cross-country travel is no easy feat. Now with a lessened learning curve, the forward is looking to continue his trajectory.
“I remember coming into last year just kind of not knowing what to expect. I was a little nervous, but now I’m a lot more confident and know what to expect,” Cooley said. “I feel like my body is in the best shape it’s ever been in. Really looking forward to getting out there and competing.”
Cooley, of course, will still have to fight for an opening-night roster spot. Utah Hockey Club training camp opens Thursday morning at the Utah Olympic Oval with two on-ice sessions, and continues up to Oct. 8’s home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Delta Center. Head coach André Tourigny said he’s not putting any expectations on his players — it’s all about what they prove in the next two weeks, Cooley included.
“He’s got to earn the right to play in top moments,” Armstrong said. “One of the things I loved about his season last year was he got better at the end. He just kept getting better and then at the end, he had his best hockey. And you love to see that. We’re hoping for the same progress this year.”
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