Devin Cooley Pro Read 8
Managing 3 Options on Angled Rush Net Drives
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Devin Cooley was an immediate fan favourite here at Pro Reads after debuting with open and candid insights into both the evolution of his game and how he reads it during a late-season stint with the San Jose Sharks. He’s since signed with the Calgary Flames and after one season with their AHL affiliate, where he was an AHL Star for the first time, appears set to move back up to the NHL full time in 2025-36.
Regardless of where he plays next, or how long it’s been since we recorded this, we don’t want to lose any of the insights from the late-blooming 28-year-old so we’re going back into our hour-long video session for another session.
THE SEQUENCE
Cooley is again facing the St. Louis Blues and an overtime chance on a play that appeared to be headed out of the zone before a turnover inside the blue line:
Looking at the freeze frame above, there is a pass option for the puck carrier but at this point which do you think is most likely? Why do you think that?
If we assumed the puck carrier is keeping this, what are his three options? Which type of attack do you think is most likely at this point? Again, ask yourself why.
Given that, what do you make of Cooley’s stance at depth at this point?
THE SAVE
Now watch the save and a replay and ask yourself the same questions?
Did it pan out the way you expected? Can you identify the reasons it wasn’t likely to be a pass? What where the shooters other options? And again, can you identify why this was the more likely one? What factors play into that?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s hear from Cooley on what he saw and how he played this rush chance:
Watch Devin Cooley break down the full video for you
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- Cooley breaks down his save on an overtime rush chance against the St. Louis Blues, stemming from a turnover inside the blue line.
- Cooley explains he positions his toes on the top of the crease at depth with his stance up and stick off the ice — a deliberate choice based on reading the shooter's threat level.
- Cooley identifies why the puck carrier was unlikely to pass at that moment, and how that read directly shaped his depth and posture before the shot.
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