Logan Cooley’s Return Adds Ceiling-Raising Stability to Mammoth

Cooley led the team in goal scoring (14 goals scored) and had 23 points pre-injury. Despite his outstanding performance, however, the Mammoth team still hit a major wall with Cooley in the lineup.

From Domination to Deterioration 

The Mammoth started off this season immaculately, winning seven in a row from Oct. 15 to Oct. 26 and securing an 8-3 record for the month. November and December, however, were a different story. 

The team imploded to a magnitude they hadn’t seen since their time in Arizona. Over the two-month span, the team went 10-19; this stretch was when Logan Cooley got hurt.

Hopes for a playoff spot were all but dashed. With a top player in Cooley gone and the rest of the team trying to find its footing, fans and media wondered if the Mammoth could get back on track.

The Resurgence

Before Logan Cooley’s injury, many of the Mammoth’s stars were struggling to find any sort of consistency.

From the start of the season until Dec. 5, Nick Schmaltz only recorded 12 goals and 19 assists, while scoring-machine Dylan Guenther only had 16 goals and 12 assists. It took a major beatdown on the New York Islanders and some tough words from veterans to turn the team’s luck around. 

After the dog days of November and December, the Mammoth finally found their groove in January.

With a record of 10-5 in the month, the Mammoth jettisoned themselves back into the playoff hunt. Guenther took over as the top scorer for the Mammoth, scoring seven goals and adding six assists. Schmaltz became red hot, tallying seven goals and seven assists.

What Logan Cooley Brings to the Table

With the team finally hitting its stride and currently sitting in the No. 1 Wild Card spot, Logan Cooley provides a ceiling-raising reinforcement. Seven teams find themselves battling for the Wild Card, and the Mammoth need every win they can get.

Last season, Cooley had a plus-minus of +1 and scored 25 goals while adding 40 assists. He ended the year third on the team for goals and assists.

Among the 2022 draft class, Cooley ranks second in goals scored and assists made, just behind No. 1 pick Juraj Slafkovsky. Besides scoring goals, the league knows Cooley for his agile skating across the ice. He’s able to weave in and out of traffic with the ability to skate at a top speed of 23.56 MPH. Though not known for defensive prowess, the center can hold his own on the defensive side of the ice.

Last season, Cooley ended seventh on the team when it came to taking the puck away from opposing teams and seventh in hits. He may not be a defenseman, but he accomplishes enough to make his presence felt.

In Coooley, the Mammoth returned a player who was a +6 before he was hurt. He’s already a +2 in his first three games, and it’s hard to argue that the Mammoth don’t play better when the center is at the helm.  

Playoffs on the Horizon?

This Mammoth team desperately needs another player to step up in order to not only solidify their spot in the postseason race, but to become a threat to win a playoff series. 

Schmaltz, Clayton Keller, and Karel Vejmelka have already stepped up their game and elevated this team to a new level. But there’s still speculation on whether Schmaltz will stay with the team due to contract disputes. JJ Peterka is also still trying to find consistency and a fit within the team. Though, to give him some credit, he ranks third on the team when it comes to goal scoring.

Not to mention the trade-deadline is approaching and the Mammoth are more than likely to make a trade before the deadline’s end. They will need time to find chemistry with their fellow players. Right now, Mammoths want consistency more than anything in a time full of uncertainty. 

Logan Cooley is that consistency. He knows the Mammoth system and showed it with his recent short-handed goal against the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 27. His stats will slowly inch towards All-Star levels, and his puck handling will contribute to the various number of eager goal-scorers on the team. If he can return to that, this Mammoth team will make the playoffs.