The Utah Mammoth and Logan Cooley have agreed on a monster extension, keeping the star forward on the club for the foreseeable future.
The deal is an eight-year, $80 million contract. Not bad considering the going rate for some of the NHL’s leading scorers exceeds the $10 million AAV mark.
That’s why the Mammoth got it right by signing Cooley to the deal they did. The uncertainty regarding Cooley’s next deal began to fade as stars like Jack Eichel and Kyle Connor signed. They set the benchmark for high-end players, leaving the next generation of stars poised to ride their coattails.
That’s exactly what Cooley did. The deal may look like an overpayment now. But it won’t be in two or three years. The rising salary cap will make this deal look like a bargain, especially if Cooley lives up to expectations.
The 21-year-old scored 25 goals and 65 points in 75 games last season. This year, he’s scored eight goals and 12 points in 11 games. If he can maintain his point-per-game pace, he’ll easily pace the Mammoth in scoring.
But then again, Cooley has the potential to become a 100-point scorer. After all, it’s easy to forget he’s just 21. There’s still plenty of room to grow, especially with such a young, talented squad around him.
Mammoth Saved Money by Striking Deal Now
The Utah Mammoth saved a ton of money by signing Logan Cooley now. Had the team waited longer, the price tag may have gone up.
Think about it. With other stars like Alex Tuch in Buffalo and Adrian Kempe in Los Angeles needing new deals, their contracts could have driven up Cooley’s price tag.
But there’s one crucial factor that could have sent Cooley’s value to the moon. A career-high year across the board would have pushed Cooley’s value past $10 million AAV. A 30-goal, 80-point season from Cooley could have been enough to push him well into the $11 million to $12 million AAV territory.
Even at that point, the Mammoth would have gotten a fair deal for Cooley. But considering the deal signed on Wednesday, the Mammoth got a bargain. It may not look like it now, but in three or four years, the Mammoth will have made out like gangbusters with this deal.
Of course, the deal hinges on Cooley delivering. There’s always the risk of injury. But as it stands now, there’s no reason why Utah Mammoth fans shouldn’t be brimming with optimism.
Utah Quietly Building Contender
The Mammoth have quietly built a contending club. Utah has amassed a solid stable of young stars, with captain Clayton Keller leading the way. Wingers JJ Peterka and Dylan Guenther are part of an enviable core. Secondary scoring pieces like Lawson Course and Liam O’Brien solidify the Mammoth’s lineup.
The veteran group rounding out the young stars has catapulted the Mammoth to a share of first place in the Central Division. It’s still relatively early in the season, but it looks like the Mammoth will have a solid shot at making the playoffs in their second season.
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