The one move the Utah Mammoth fans were anticipating all summer was the completion of a new contract for forward Logan Cooley. The season begins this week, and NHL Insider Frank Seravelli is reporting that Cooley turned down an 8-year deal worth almost $77 million.
Sources: @utahmammoth made a push to get rising star Logan Cooley extended before start of the season, but his camp turned down an 8-year deal worth nearly $77 million (8 years x $9.6 million).
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 6, 2025
More info on Frankly Hockey at 12 noon ET on @victoryplustv.
Cooley is currently making $950,000 this season and is slated to be the top-line center for the Utah Mammoth, now serious playoff contenders. The Pennsylvania native is coming off his best performance of his young career with 25 goals and 40 assists.
After being drafted 3rd overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, Cooley stepped right into the NHL and posted a 20-goal campaign. With 157 NHL games under his belt, the 21-year-old is primed to improve on his 65-point season and help lead Utah to its first playoff appearance.
The Mammoth's captain, Clayton Keller, is locked up for another three seasons, while winger Dylan Guenther is under contract till 2033. Newly acquired JJ Peterka signed an extension upon arriving in Utah, making him a Mammoth till 2030.
Barrett Hayton and Cooley will both become restricted free agents this summer, and with Nick Schmaltz becoming an unrestricted free agent, it is difficult to see all three players back in Salt Lake City for the 2026-27 season.
Naturally, the Mammoth and Cooley are hoping for a successful season both individually and as a team. In many ways, these two results are intertwined, as the Mammoth making the playoffs would require significant production from Cooley.
Things are looking strong on paper, but that's why you play the games. If Cooley truly turned down this massive offer from the Mammoth, it does not necessarily mean he wants to leave Utah, but more that he is betting on himself to improve on a strong first two seasons in the NHL. A lack of production or injury is always a risk in these situations, and it could result in a contract change of many millions of dollars.
Currently, the Mammoth have $4,555,871, according to PuckPedia. The strong rumors of the salary cap rising again next summer will help put Utah in a better position to afford Cooley's demands, but it will sacrifice the strength of other positions.
It is difficult not to be scared of this rumor for Cooley, but you cannot blame the kid for wanting the most value and having confidence in himself. Peterka was able to get a contract with an annual salary of $7.7 million, and he scored almost 30 goals in the last two seasons in Buffalo.
The big takeaway from this rumor is to trust the Mammoth management and not to burn any Cooley jerseys. Although not ideal, this is an asset the team is building around to win.