Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils NHL Draft Options At Second Overall

By David Holliday

Juraj Slafkovsky of Slovakia celebrates his goal during the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship match between Kazakhstan and Slovakia at Helsinki Ice Hall on May 20, 2022 in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Juraj Slafkovsky of Slovakia celebrates his goal during the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship match between Kazakhstan and Slovakia at Helsinki Ice Hall on May 20, 2022 in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils, Logan Cooley
Logan Cooley #18 of Team White (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) /

Logan Cooley

At 5’10, Logan Cooley might not be the big body fans want, but when it comes to drafting, especially this high, teams need to look at the best player available. If you are getting a forward, he better be putting up points. Playing for the U.S. National Development Team, Cooley scored 27 times and had 75 points in 51 games. That made him the top scorer on the team. In terms of draft-eligible players in this program, he is sitting in the top 10 all-time. He also played in the U18 Men’s World Championships where he had another strong performance with three goals and 10 points in six games being named the tournament’s top forward.

His skating is at the top end of the draft and he makes it look easy getting past defenders which is something that is needed to keep up to the pace of the modern NHL but what is most noticeable when he is moving is that he protects the puck well while doing this and uses his body to keep the defender in a position that he can’t stick check it easily. This should translate into the NHL very well.

His release is very fast, deceptive, and another part of his game that will translate to the NHL. He can pick the corners with ease, and if you can’t catch junior goalies by surprise, there is no chance of doing so at the top of the sport. This is also a player who drives the play and despite the size, this is something the Devils desperately needed.

If Bratt and Hughes were not split up or when Hughes was injured the team was just too easy to stop and relied on one guy to carry the offensive play. If they pick Cooley, and with Mercer improving, the team is as close to guaranteed as getting another play driver as possible.

The problem with him like most young offensive players is that he can puck watch a bit in the defensive end, which will frustrate fans. The reality is this is 99% of draft-eligible players and what is most important at this age is that he is putting the effort in on both sides of the rink and is always willing to learn and improve that part of his game.

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