Flyers Top 25 Under 25: Michigan freshman Cooper Marody ranks No. 23

Getting cut from your varsity hockey team is an upsetting if relatively normal occurrence. Getting cut from your varsity hockey team and then being drafted into the NHL though? That’s a different story altogether.

Cooper Marody has clearly been run through the ringer in his hockey career. Marody, a very personable guy, has been blunt about his station so far, being bounced around in the USHL and even claiming to be the worst player on his team in bantam. In an article by Tim Panaccio, Marody explained his adversity thusly:

“I was never a promoted guy, never a hyped guy. It’s just a tremendous honor and I’m humbled by the opportunity.”

So it’s obvious that Marody definitely has the mental fortitude and wherewithal to ride out the waves of an unpredictable storm. What’s less obvious is why he fell to the Flyers, a pick that many consider to be a huge steal.

23. Cooper Marody

Position: Forward (Right Wing)

Birthdate: December 20, 1996 (18)

2014-15 Team/League: Muskegon Lumberjacks / Sioux Falls Stampede, USHL – 22 G, 36 A in 52 GP

Nationality: American (Brighton, MI)

Size: 6’0″, 173

Contract Status: None (entering freshman year of college)

Ranking in August 2014 25 Under 25: N/A

Marody was slated at 53 amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings, quite a significant way away from pick 158 where the Flyers were able to snag him. Here’s what Michigan’s Maize N Brew draft preview had to say about his projection prior to the draft:

Marody has been a guy scouts have had a high opinion of for almost a year now. Listed as a “B” rated prospect in Central Scouting’s Preliminary Rankings, Marody used an outstanding second half to push his stock solidly into the third round. If a team is willing to reach, he could end up at the tail end of the second.

While that projection was clearly optimistic, it had reason to be.

After getting off to a slow start this year in Muskegon, Marody was traded to Sioux Falls which proved to be a great move for his development. He made great strides after the trade, rocketing up to end the season tied for 11th in scoring. He’s praised most for his above average skating, his creativity, and play-making.

Marody’s biggest downfall, according to, well, just about everyone, is his size. At 6′0 and 173 pounds, he could definitely stand to add more muscle to his frame. Hopefully, he’ll be able to do so without sacrificing his speed, which is arguably his most important asset.

Marody has committed to the University of Michigan, and according to Panaccio, has already begun there, getting a head start with summer classes to make the transition to college and NCAA hockey a bit easier.

Should he be able to fulfill his upside, Marody could be a dynamic winger in the NHL, but of course, there’s plenty of work he needs to do in order to get there.

Also, as a friend of Marody’s points out, Cooper was recently featured on the Hunks of Hockey Instagram page, which says more to me about his value than the entirety of my own article, frankly.

If nothing else, Marody seems diligent and hard-working, looking out for his future. I think we all hope that will be to his and the Flyers mutual benefit.

How we voted for Cooper Marody:

Who we voted for at No. 23: