Logan Cooley can join limited company of Pittsburgh-area 1st-rounders
In total, only two players who claim to be from Western Pennsylvania have been selected in the first round of an NHL Draft.
West Mifflin’s Logan Cooley is expected to join that illustrious list Thursday on the first day of the entry draft. He is expected to be picked within the first three selections.
Forward R.J. Umberger of Plum was the first. Selected No. 16 overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2001, Umberger never played for that franchise. Traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, he enjoyed a productive 11-year career for the Flyers as well as the Columbus Blue Jackets. In 779 career games, Umberger scored 392 points (180 goals, 212 assists) before retiring following the 2015-16.
A decade after Umberger was drafted, he was surpassed by forward J.T. Miller. A native of East Palestine, Ohio, who grew up in Coraopolis, Miller was the 15th overall selection of the 2011 draft by the New York Rangers. Over 10 seasons with the Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Canucks, Miller has played in 637 career games and scored 454 points (169 goals, 285 assists).
Forward Henrik Samuelsson, son of former Penguins defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, was selected No. 27 overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2012. He was born in Pittsburgh but spent little time in Western Pennsylvania while growing up.
Western Pa. connection
Players from Western Pa. selected in the NHL Draft and played in the league:
1999 – Ryan Malone, Upper St. Clair, third round (No. 36 overall), Pittsburgh Penguins
1999 – George Parros, Washington, eighth round (No. 222 overall), Los Angeles Kings
2001 – R.J. Umberger, Plum, first round (No. 16 overall), Vancouver Canucks
2002 – Nate Guenin, Hopewell, fourth round (No. 127 overall), New York Rangers
2002 – John Zeiler, Jefferson Hills, fifth round (No. 132 overall), Phoenix Coyotes
2003 – Dylan Reese, Upper St. Clair, seventh round (No. 209 overall), New York Rangers
2004 – Grant Lewis, Upper St. Clair, second round (No. 40 overall), Atlanta Thrashers
2006 – Mike Weber, Cranberry, second round (No. 57 overall), Buffalo Sabres
2008 – Matt Bartkowski, Mt. Lebanon, seventh round (No. 190 overall), Florida Panthers
2009 – Patrick Wey, Mt. Lebanon, fourth round (No. 115 overall), Washington Capitals
2010 – Stephen Johns, Ellwood City, second round (No. 60 overall), Chicago Blackhawks
2011 – J.T. Miller, Coraopolis, Coraopolis, first round (No. 15 overall), New York Rangers
2011 – John Gibson, Whitehall, second round (No. 39 overall), Anaheim Ducks
2011 – Brandon Saad, Gibsonia, second round (No. 43 overall), Chicago Blackhawks
2011 – Vince Trocheck, Upper St. Clair, third round (No. 64 overall), Florida Panthers
2012 – Riley Barber, Washington, sixth round (No. 167 overall), Washington Capitals
2014 – Sam Lafferty, Hollidaysburg, fourth round (No. 113 overall), Pittsburgh Penguins
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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