Coyotes hype up Logan Cooley as ‘top prospect in the world’ in Connor Bedard snub

It appears the Arizona Coyotes have been dwelling beneath a rock. 

In a press release launched Wednesday, the NHL workforce knowledgeable the general public they’ve executed a letter of intent to buy land for a possible new area, and in an effort to get their followers excited concerning the franchise’s future, additionally they overestimated their incoming middle, Logan Cooley, to an exaggerated extent. 

“Our extremely loyal and passionate fan base is extraordinarily enthusiastic about our workforce and the unimaginable additions we’ve made this summer season together with Matt Dumba, Jason Zucker, Alex Kerfoot, Nick Bjugstad, Troy Stecher, Sean Durzi and the highest prospect on the earth, Logan Cooley,” the statement read. 

Cooley, who signed his three-year, entry stage contract with the membership final month, is little question a game-changing expertise, however within the yr of Connor Bedard, the Coyotes’ declare feels a little bit of a stretch.  

Bedard, 18, headlined the 2023 NHL Draft as the No. 1 overall pick of the Chicago Blackhawks and has already been tabbed not solely as the brand new face of the group but in addition the way forward for the league. 

The middle completely tore it up within the Canadian Hockey League the previous three seasons with the Regina Pats, ending the 2022-23 marketing campaign with 143 factors (71 targets and 72 assists) in solely 57 video games. 

Bedard was the primary participant in CHL historical past to win the Participant of the Yr, High Draft Prospect and High Scorer awards all in the identical season.

The child has been likened to Sidney Crosby and hasn’t even hit NHL ice but. 

Cooley, 19, chosen third general by Arizona within the 2022 NHL Draft, is not any throwaway, but it surely’s a troublesome comparability to Bedard. 

The middle had a productive freshman season on the College of Minnesota and was an enormous a part of the squad’s run to the Frozen 4, the place the Gophers in the end misplaced in heartbreaking trend to Quinnipiac in time beyond regulation of the nationwide championship. 

The Pittsburgh, Pa. native was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and led the Gophers with 60 factors (22 targets and 38 assists) by way of 39 video games. 

He’ll add a lot wanted depth and uncooked expertise down the center to a Coyotes workforce that has struggled to seek out success for the higher a part of a decade. 

So sure, an incredible prospect — and it may be left proper there.