Devin Cooley Has a Message for Flames Fans After His Injury
Sometimes a hockey player tells you more about himself after a difficult night than after a big win. Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley may have done exactly that. The Flames were shut out 4-0 by the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, but the bigger concern was seeing Cooley leave the game after a collision with Colton Dach. The goaltender suffered a lower-body injury, and there's no clear timetable yet for his return.
That's unfortunate timing for Calgary. Cooley had been a big part of the team's recent improvement, helping the Flames put together a 5-1-0 stretch over their previous six games. He had also just been named the NHL's second star of the week. Cooley's response was so typical of the personality Flames fans have come to appreciate.
His response caught my attention. Rather than simply expressing frustration about being sidelined, he offered a surprisingly positive perspective. He acknowledged that injuries are difficult, but said he considers himself a fast healer. More interestingly, he talked about using the time away to reset physically and mentally and find ways to improve his game off the ice.
He even suggested that sometimes the things we least want to happen can turn out to be exactly what we need. That's an interesting way to look at an injury, particularly for a young goaltender trying to establish himself in the NHL.
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Calgary Needs Cooley, But It Also Needs Perspective.
Let's be clear. The Flames would much rather have Cooley between the pipes than watching from the sidelines. His recent performances have given the team confidence, and losing him as things start to come together isn't ideal. Dustin Wolf is expected to carry the load, beginning with Friday's game against Seattle. Calgary then faces Colorado on Saturday, creating an awkward goaltending situation if Cooley isn't ready.
Arsenii Sergeev is another possibility, although asking him to step into an NHL game against the Avalanche would be a considerable challenge. For now, Calgary has to manage the immediate problem and wait for more information about Cooley.
But his response is encouraging. Goaltenders spend so much time working on their positioning, reflexes, and technical details that it's easy to overlook the mental side of the position.
Can Cooley Build on His Recent Success After the Injury?
Perhaps Cooley can use this interruption to work on that part of his game, too. Nobody wants an injury to become part of a development plan. Still, how a player responds when things don't go according to plan can tell us something about him.
Flames fans have already seen what Cooley can do when he's playing well. Now they'll get to see how he handles an unexpected detour. Hopefully, it won't be long.