Ryan Cooper's Rookie Profile [1/2]

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Ryan Cooper (C)

 

Hailing from the hockey hotbed of Edmonton, Alberta is the creative, offensive centreman Ryan Cooper. Physically measuring at 6-foot-1 and weighing 195 pounds, Cooper has long been seen as a speedy offensive dynamo, having been identified as a potential star at a young age.

 

 

Pros

Speed and Puckhandling

Ryan Cooper’s biggest asset, as most scouts confirm, is his skating ability. At every level he has played, he has been among the fastest skaters, and he has excellent acceleration from a stand still. He is also equally proficient at changing speeds and stopping, as well as an excellent handler of the puck, which makes him a nightmare for opposing defencemen to contain. Due to his speed, he’s been able to score most of his points off the rush thus far. It is yet to be seen whether this will fully translate at the next level.

 

Passing and Shooting

Ryan Cooper is equally adept at passing and shooting the puck. On any given play, he has the ability to shoot or to pass depending on circumstance, which makes him especially deadly on 2-on-1s, which he creates many of due to his speed. He forces opposing defencemen and goaltenders to try to cover both the pass and the shot. His passing and shooting has also resulted in solid powerplay production this far, but he will have to improve further to make a similar impact at higher levels of play.

 

Leadership

Ryan Cooper has served in leadership roles on teams throughout his career. He prefers to lead by example on the ice, not being the most vocal player in the locker room, but will say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said. He is lauded by coaches and players alike for a cool, level-headed attitude, and calmness in the face of pressure. However, this is not to be mistaken for a lack of emotion, as he can occasionally seen celebrating important goals passionately, though many of his celebrations are on the more moderate side.

 

 

Cons

Defensive play

At every level he has played at so far, Cooper's defensive play has been sufficient, though not great. Most of his defence has consisted of using his speed to strip opposing players of pucks. However, it is evident that this alone will not be enough moving forward, and his defensive positioning certainly needs work. It is yet to be known whether Cooper will be able to improve his play away from the puck without sacrificing his aggressive attacking instincts and creativity.

 

Strength

Adding to his questionable defensive zone play is Cooper’s lack of strength. He hasn’t yet “grown into his body,” that is to say, he hasn’t learnt to use his size effectively yet. At 6-foot-1 at 195 pounds, Cooper has the size, but his use of it is not there yet. He doesn’t play a particularly physical game, though thus far he hasn’t had to. He’ll certainly be spending good time in the gym in the offseason, but don’t expect him to be a particularly strong physical player anytime soon.

 

Experience

A rookie, it goes without saying that Ryan Cooper lacks professional experience. It is almost completely unknown how his skills will translate as he takes the next steps in his career. He is also not yet accustomed to the faster pace and tighter checking of professional hockey. He has played through his entire career thus far as a star player, usually able to create chances at will, and will have to adapt to the parity of ability and skill that is to be found at the highest levels of the sport.

Edited April 9, 2018 by ujju2

[Banackock 8,044]

Beautiful write up, man. Good colour play and decent effort. Look forward to seeing more.

 

@ujju2