Player Discussion Let's talk about Devin Cooley

[MM917]

Have the Flames found a diamond in the rough here? This guy has been really good in every game I've watched him play this pre-season.

Per Devin Cooley:

27 and terrible numbers wherever he has played. Not sure why a meaningless pre-season game playing against scrubs and a "fun" interview is likely to negate what years of his play has shown us.

He seems like a fun guy to have in the minors or maybe to eat loses while we go for a top 5 pick but there is zero reason to think this guy has any future in the NHL for a team that wants success.

 

[Rubi]

27 and terrible numbers wherever he has played. Not sure why a meaningless pre-season game playing against scrubs and a "fun" interview is likely to negate what years of his play has shown us.

He seems like a fun guy to have in the minors or maybe to eat loses while we go for a top 5 pick but there is zero reason to think this guy has any future in the NHL for a team that wants success.

Sounds like the guy never got any consistent/good coaching until he was almost 20 and I suspect even then it was hit or miss. Basically sounds like growing up he was self taught and flying by the seat of his pants and probably learning a lot of bad habits along the way and surviving on raw athleticism. A season playing for the wranglers could change a lot of that. Also, being 27 doesn't mean squat for a goalie... particularly when 3 of those years were spent playing university hockey here he only got to play 32 games.
Personally I wouldn't be so quick to write him off as a bust. Right now he ain't ready for prime time but with the right goalie coach he might surprise a lot of people.

 

[MM917]

Sounds like the guy never got any consistent/good coaching until he was almost 20 and I suspect even then it was hit or miss. Basically sounds like growing up he was self taught and flying by the seat of his pants and probably learning a lot of bad habits along the way and surviving on raw athleticism. A season playing for the wranglers could change a lot of that. Also, being 27 doesn't mean squat for a goalie... particularly when 3 of those years were spent playing university hockey here he only got to play 32 games.
Personally I wouldn't be so quick to write him off as a bust. Right now he ain't ready for prime time but with the right goalie coach he might surprise a lot of people.

He was at the University of Denver, are you going to claim he didn’t get quality coaching there? Then 4 years of professional hockey, no quality coaching there?

Other than him being a Flame and you wanting to be delusional there is nothing to suggest he will be any good. It’s insane to suggest it based on absolutely nothing.

 

[Khrox]

He was at the University of Denver, are you going to claim he didn’t get quality coaching there? Then 4 years of professional hockey, no quality coaching there?

Sure there was some quality. But there's also the fact that even Cooley admitted that the first time he ever had access to a goalie coach was during his time in the NCAA. Meaning he managed to make every roster he's been on off of pure athleticism and instinct. That is a good base to work with, but that also means that being that far into your development pretty much completely self taught means that he has a LOT of bad habits to break and fundamentals to learn. By no means am I saying he's going to be the next Kipper, but he could still easily develop as a solid backup.

 

[Rubi]

He was at the University of Denver, are you going to claim he didn’t get quality coaching there? Then 4 years of professional hockey, no quality coaching there?

Other than him being a Flame and you wanting to be delusional there is nothing to suggest he will be any good. It’s insane to suggest it based on absolutely nothing.

He was at the University of Denver for 3 years and I could only see one goalie coach in those 3 years and that was Corey Wogtech (who was a volunteer goalie coach btw) in his Junior year in 2019-2020 and he only played 9 games that year. So ya.. I don't think he had quality goaltending coaching while at university.

As for his pro career...

2020-21 Florida Everblades ECHL - 22 games
2020-21 Chicago Wolves AHL - 2 games

2021-22 Milwaukee Admirals AHL - 24 games
2021-22 Florida Everblades ECHL - 3 games

2022-23 Milwaukee Admirals AHL - 26 games

2023-24 Rochester Americans AHL - 14 games
2023-24 San Jose Sharks NHL - 6 games

The guy, in his short pro career has changed goalie coaches more often than I change my socks. Talk about a prime example of "How To f*** Up a Young Goalies Career".

Did I say he was a polished diamond? No. I said "Have the Flames found a diamond in the rough here?"... which is a maybe... and that was based on what he's shown in the preseason and the fact that Conroy and the scouting staff see something more than his past stats.
You obviously don't.

 

[MM917]

He was at the University of Denver for 3 years and I could only see one goalie coach in those 3 years and that was Corey Wogtech (who was a volunteer goalie coach btw) in his Junior year in 2019-2020 and he only played 9 games that year. So ya.. I don't think he had quality goaltending coaching while at university.

As for his pro career...

2020-21 Florida Everblades ECHL - 22 games
2020-21 Chicago Wolves AHL - 2 games

2021-22 Milwaukee Admirals AHL - 24 games
2021-22 Florida Everblades ECHL - 3 games

2022-23 Milwaukee Admirals AHL - 26 games

2023-24 Rochester Americans AHL - 14 games
2023-24 San Jose Sharks NHL - 6 games

The guy, in his short pro career has changed goalie coaches more often than I change my socks. Talk about a prime example of "How To f*** Up a Young Goalies Career".

Did I say he was a polished diamond? No. I said "Have the Flames found a diamond in the rough here?"... which is a maybe... and that was based on what he's shown in the preseason and the fact that Conroy and the scouting staff see something more than his past stats.
You obviously don't.

Maybe your "diamond in the rough" means something different to you than it does to me. When I hear that I am thinking someone who can make an impact, I don't think Cooley has that potential. I think him being a back-up on a good team would be a stretch. He hasn't shown any ability, skill or potential for that.

As for Conroy and the Flames, I think they see what I saw a guy with a positive personality that can fit in with a team rebuilding helping to keep positive vibes while eating losses in the NHL or filling a role in the AHL.

 

[Rubi]

Maybe your "diamond in the rough" means something different to you than it does to me. When I hear that I am thinking someone who can make an impact, I don't think Cooley has that potential. I think him being a back-up on a good team would be a stretch. He hasn't shown any ability, skill or potential for that.

As for Conroy and the Flames, I think they see what I saw a guy with a positive personality that can fit in with a team rebuilding helping to keep positive vibes while eating losses in the NHL or filling a role in the AHL.

Fair enough.

 

[Mobiandi]

Nice guy, tries hard, loves the game

Gives me Louie Domingue vibes. Keeps the room loose but I’ll be surprised if he plays more than 2 games this year unless there’s an injury. Feel-good third stringer

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Put him on waivers. If another team claims him we can grab Bussi or another goalie that shakes loose.

 

[Rubi]

I totally expect, barring injury or a trade, that he'll spend the entire season playing for the Wranglers... and rightly so.
However, so far based on what I've seen, he intrigues me. But then, at times I felt the same way about Dan Vladar and David Rittich. Who knows.

 

[joescores]

I think he is currently our no.1 goalie. Very good signing by Conny.

 

[Lunatik]

I totally expect, barring injury or a trade, that he'll spend the entire season playing for the Wranglers... and rightly so.
However, so far based on what I've seen, he intrigues me. But then, at times I felt the same way about Dan Vladar and David Rittich. Who knows.

A good attitude and being a bit raw is a good combination, he's unlikely to see much if any NHL time this year, but I do think he could potentially grow into a backup for next season.

 

[Rubi]

Another excellent 20 minutes by Cooley last night..

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840231644638122191

Btw, out of Wolf, Vladar, and Cooley, Dustin Wolf is the only one that's waivers exempt.
I'll be pissed off if we expose Cooley to waivers and he gets claimed. I'd rather expose Vladar. I think its the safer bet. Although the smart thing to do would be to send Wolf down and keep Vladar and Cooley up... but that might lead to a fan revolt though..

 

[Lunatik]

Another excellent 20 minutes by Cooley last night..

https://x.com/i/web/status/1840231644638122191

Btw, out of Wolf, Vladar, and Cooley, Dustin Wolf is the only one that's waivers exempt.
I'll be pissed off if we expose Cooley to waivers and he gets claimed. I'd rather expose Vladar. I think its the safer bet. Although the smart thing to do would be to send Wolf down and keep Vladar and Cooley up... but that might lead to a fan revolt though..

Cooley won't get claimed, a few good appearances in the preseason don't change the fact that he's been subpar in the AHL, and brutal in the NHL in his career. The catch w/ waiver claims is they have to keep the goalie on the roster, and no teams really need a goalie that isn't a starter right now. Frankly they should waive him ASAP before an injury occurs elsewhere

 

[Figgy44]

Cooley won't get claimed, a few good appearances in the preseason don't change the fact that he's been subpar in the AHL, and brutal in the NHL in his career. The catch w/ waiver claims is they have to keep the goalie on the roster, and no teams really need a goalie that isn't a starter right now. Frankly they should waive him ASAP before an injury occurs elsewhere

Yep. Lots of teams looking for a starter or a part season stop gap. Very little in between. IMO Cooley would be the perfect Dansk calibre veteran presence replacement for the Wranglers. He's older and Ignatjew is an AHL rookie, but if Cooley starts looking good, I'd treat him as found money and see if he's a late bloomer, like an undrafted goalie prospect for us or something.

As the Wrangler's 1G and potential promotion or games over Ignatjew, I don't think that's a problem for the next 2 seasons.