Every team is built with a core, and the Utah Mammoth has been building a group of young players that they can build around for the next decade. One player whose contract expires next summer is center Logan Cooley. Cooley will become a restricted free agent after the upcoming season and will remain Utah's property.
Much like recently acquired JJ Peterka, Cooley would have to be traded rather than having the freedom of signing with a new club. General manager Bill Armstrong wants to avoid that at all costs. The team has some available salary cap space, but no contract extension has been revealed, and that is worrisome.
Both parties have been in communication, but arriving at training camp without a contract could cause a distraction for the team and the player. The talent of Cooley is not in doubt as he has showcased his skill from day 1.
The only two NHL seasons for Cooley resulted in 20-plus goals. Last season, he registered 65 points and was a plus-1. Andre Tourigny felt more comfortable with the 21-year-old this season and played him in all situations where he found much success. Additionally, the Pennsylvania native was a big contributor to the gold medal-winning USA team in the Hockey World Championships.
From Cooley's perspective, he could hold off on signing a new deal until the end of the season in hopes of setting career highs. It would not be a huge risk, as he has already set the bar for a contract, and if JJ Peterka's contract is any indication, he will get quite the raise from his entry-level contract.
For many reasons, Cooley is the most important player in the organization. The potential for star power from Cooley is undeniable and will be the face of the young Utah franchise. Building the brand for the franchise is huge, and Cooley is the perfect fit to start it.
The captain, Clayton Keller, may be the best player on the team, but the sky is the ceiling for Cooley, and Armstrong knows it after drafting him third overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. It is imperative to get Cooley signed before training camp and for as much a length to the contract as possible.