Utah Mammoth sign Logan Cooley to an 8-year, $80 million extension

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Mammoth signed Logan Cooley to an eight-year, $80 million extension, a deal that keeps the budding star center under contract through 2033-34.

Cooley will count $10 million against the salary cap beginning when the contract that was announced Wednesday kicks in next season.

“Logan is elite in every sense of the word,” owner Ryan Smith said. “He’s one of the most exciting young players in the league, and the fact that he’s chosen to plant roots here in Utah says everything about what we’re building.”

The 21-year-old Cooley has eight goals and four assists in 11 games, helping Utah get off to a strong start in the club's first season known as the Mammoth, leading the Western Conference with a record of 8-3-1.

“We have an opportunity to do something special here thanks to the incredible people in the organization,” said Cooley, a Pittsburgh native who was the third pick in the 2022 draft by the then-Arizona Coyotes. "This is an awesome day for me and my family, and I am proud to commit to the state of Utah and to the Mammoth.”

Only four NHL players have scored more goals than Cooley so far, and he's an emerging candidate to make the U.S. Olympic roster.

“Logan is not only an incredible player but an even better person and we look forward to watching him grow," general manager Bill Armstrong said. “He, along with the rest of our core group, will have an impact in Utah for many years to come.”

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Utah Mammoth's Logan Cooley, right, scores past St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, left, for his third goal of the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Utah Mammoth's Logan Cooley (92) looks to pass as Justin Faulk, left, and goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) defend during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Utah Mammoth's Dylan Guenther (11), Logan Cooley (92) and Mikhail Sergachev (98) celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during first period NHL action, in Edmonton on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (92) is congratulated after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Former President Barack Obama met with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for the first time on Saturday at a child care center where they read to preschoolers and led a singalong.

The meeting comes as Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is also trying to build a working relationship with Republican President Donald Trump. The meeting comes just over a week after Mamdani marked his 100th day in office.

Obama and Mamdani did not take questions after reading the book “Alone and Together” to the children and leading a singalong of “The Wheels on the Bus.”

The former two-term president and standard-bearer for the Democratic Party has offered to be a sounding board for Mamdani, 34, whose star power, youth and progressive agenda has made him stand out in Democratic politics.

Mamdani took office in January after a campaign centered on making New York City a more affordable place to live, centering his agenda on refocusing the vast power of government toward helping the city’s struggling working class.

Mamdani's meeting with Obama comes after he has already met twice with Trump at the White House in November and February to discuss issues affecting New York City.

Despite those friendly meetings, their relationship has shown signs of strain recently, with Trump posting on Truth Social Thursday that Mamdani was “DESTROYING New York” with his taxing policies and threatened to pull federal funding for the city.

Former President Barack Obama and Mayor Zohran Mamdani sing "Wheels on the Bus" to children at Learning Through Play Pre-K in New York, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Former President Barack Obama, left, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani read a book to children at Learning Through Play Pre-K in New York, on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)