Logan Cooley's Return Creates a Great Problem for the Utah Mammoth
· Yahoo Sports
Logan Cooley is back for the Utah Mammoth and it couldn't have come at a better time.
Missing 28 games due to a lower-body injury he suffered against the Canucks, Logan Cooley came back in the lineup for the first time since his injury, playing in Utah's 4-2 loss to Colorado.
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Cooley looked fresh on the ice swerving past defenders, showing off his speed. Albeit a couple missed passes, Cooley's return will make an already fast Mammoth team that much harder to defend.
But with Cooley back, the question for Utah becomes who will sit?
It already looks as though Daniil But will serve as the first "causality" for the Mammoth.
Even before Utah's game against Colorado, But was making his after return in Tucson for the first time since late November, scoring three points for the Roadrunners in its last three games.
There's always a chance But can still be recalled despite his recent absence. His big, physical demeanor was useful for Utah and it forced teams to respect him whenever he went net front.
Still, It wouldn't come as much of a surprise to see But remain in the AHL in periods now that the Mammoth are healthy. A promising prospect like But needs to see playing time.
But besides relegating But back to Tuscon, the answer becomes a little less obvious as to who else deserves to sit.
The question would have been answered in Utah's game against the Avalanche with both Cooley and Alexander Kerfoot, who also returned from an upper-body injury, if not for Michael Carcone's illness keeping him out of the lineup.
Still, it would be hard to imagine that Carcone doesn't return to the lineup after eclipsing 20 points already in what has turned out to be a bounce back season for him.
Assuming Carcone returns, the question really becomes who between Kailer Yamamoto, Brandon Tanev and Liam O' Brien the last remaining spot.
Spoiler, it's not going to be Yamamoto... or at the very least it shouldn't be.
Though Yamamoto has appeared in less games than Tanev, Yamamoto has provided a huge boost, registering 17 points and even having a semi- recent multi goal stretch for the Mammoth to close out January.
On top of that, Utah's has loved plugging in Yamamoto wherever the team needs him to be. It hasn't mattered which line he has played on, Yamamoto has always answered the call and had chemistry with who he plays with.
Add in the fact that Tanev has had underwhelming season, only registering two points in 45 games played, it feels like a Yamamoto, Kerfoot and Kevin Stenlund line could play well together.
The only reason Yamamoto shouldn't be on the ice for the Mammoth is when the team is looking to play a more phsyical group where it can have Tanev or Liam O' Brien laying out hits. But Yamamoto's production simply seems too valuable to give up.
Barring any unexpected injuries, Utah's Friday night lineup against the Wild should both be a first look at a fully healthy Mammoth team and the expected lineup for the rest of the year.
But who knows, maybe the looming trade deadline could offer for some unforeseen surprises. Bill Armstrong has shown he is willing to trade for the right piece.
Plus it would take a lot of luck for any NHL team to keep its whole roster healthy. All the Mammoth can do is be grateful the group is healthy now in its most important push of the season.