Utah Mammoth star Logan Cooley’s left leg has been through the ringer over the last week or so.
In a game against the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 29, Alexey Toropchenko struck him with a knee-on-thigh hit, for which Toropchenko got a major penalty and a game misconduct. Cooley did not return to that game, but played without issues two days later in San Jose.
Then, on Friday in Vancouver, Cooley fell while skating at full speed and crashed into the net — left leg first. The above-the-net replay angle shows his leg bending in a way that human limbs were never meant to go.
He played the following shift, a minute and 20 seconds total, but did not play in the remaining 3:19 of the game. The next night in Calgary, Cooley sat out.
Upon the team’s return to Salt Lake City, Cooley was the only player not on the ice when Monday’s morning skate began. Shortly thereafter, the team released a memo stating that the 21-year-old would be out “indefinitely.”
“I think every team is going through adversity, and it’s an opportunity for someone else to step (up),” said Mammoth coach André Tourigny. “... Next man up. We need to have that mentality.”
Cooley, who signed an eight-year, $80 million contract extension in late October, already has two hat tricks this year — including the first four-goal game by an NHL player this season.
Utah’s other injuries are as follows:
- Alexander Kerfoot (core muscle), projected to return between Dec. 19 and Jan. 2;
- Olli Määttä (upper body), on injured reserve, but is fully participating in practice;
- Juuso Välimäki (torn ACL), originally projected to return between Nov. 10 and Dec. 10, but still no word on an actual return.
