Red Wings of Tomorrow: Cooper Moore

Red Wings of Tomorrow is assessing every prospect in the Detroit Red Wings system and what they are projecting to be in the future. We’ll be looking at the strengths and weaknesses of their game, as well as what the future holds for them as they advance through the Detroit organization. Today, we feature defenseman Cooper Moore

Cooper Moore

Position: Defenseman

How Acquired: Selected 128th overall, 2019 NHL entry draft

2021-22 Stats: (GP-G-A-P) 38-2-7-9 (with University of North Dakota)

Contract Status: Unsigned

Anticipated 2022-23 Team: North Dakota (National Collegiate Hockey Conference )

Prospect Synopsis

Cooper Moore has offensive instincts. When he was playing prep hockey for Brunswick, he scored five goals in a game. He scored six goals in his first nine games in the British Columbia Hockey League. He made the all-rookie team in the BCHA in 2019-20 with 33 points in 55 games.

But Moore hasn’t been overly productive offensively in his first two seasons at North Dakota.

Top Ottawa Senators prospect Jake Sanderson was the high profile offensive defenseman on the North Dakota squad. But Moore did manage 56 shots on goal and posted three or more shots in a game 11 times. Moore had a two-point game at Minnesota-Duluth.

🚨 MAKE THEM PAY! 🚨

Cooper Moore with a blast on the power play and it's 2-1 UND! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/Frt9fx2qMN

— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) March 5, 2022

Moore, 21, has developed into solid college defenseman. He is listed 6-foot-2, 195 pounds. He’s a regular defenseman on one of the premier college hockey programs in the country. With Sanderson now with the Senators, Moore’s role could expand next season

Estimated Time of Arrival in Detroit

Moore was taken by the Red Wings one round ahead of much talked-about forward Elmer Soderblom. Defenseman Moore hasn’t rocketed up Detroit’s prospect list. But the college route is different than the European pro path to the NHL.

He still has time to earn a pro contract. But he will need to show he is an impact performer next season. Right now, he is not a premium prospect

[bet-promo id=”1859″ ]

His 49 penalty minutes show Moore has some bite to his game. College players often turn pro after one or two seasons at school, but not everyone. Some need a strong junior season to show their value.

Jack LaFontaine (#LetsGoCanes) absolutely robs Cooper Moore (#LGRW) to keep Minnesota within one of North Dakota. pic.twitter.com/jUA9siiGox

— J.D. Burke (@JDylanBurke) November 28, 2021

As much as the Red Wings might like to see more offense from Moore, it is probably more important that he continues to grow as a defender.  Nobody plays on an NHL defense without some measure of competence in one-on-one coverage