Cooper made a solid first impression back at the Draft Day Showcase, so I was interested in seeing how he'd look in club play. On the surface of his game, there is an impressive package of physical tools as in his larger frame, Cooper has all the skating abilities I'm looking for. McAslan could maneuver in any direction required for the situation and was notably fluid and powerful in his lateral skating mechanics, enabling him to pivot and change direction with ease. While the physical tools were impressive in isolation, he applied them well to drive positive results. Cooper relied on his feet to dodge oncoming pressure and then make a pass up ice time and time again. He always seemed to want to seek a play under control, operated with patience and was easily the Raiders' most impactful puck-mover, helping them transition up ice easily whenever he was involved. McAslan had some moments of offensive involvement, walking the line to find shooting lanes and creeping in for passes, but his physical abilities and passing game were certainly what left me so optimistic about him moving forward.

Like Martin, Cooper was especially noteworthy in the two Friday games where I would have said he was easily their best defender. Two key areas stood out in McAslan's game, the first being his involvement on the offensive side of the puck. On so many sequences, Cooper was eager and active in the offensive zone, trying to find ways to spark offensive chances. He was typically following the play closely, creeping in backdoor and hovering into the slot, looking to be open for passes or be in the right spot to pounce on a loose puck, scoring a rebound through this offensive anticipation. If he had the puck, he was confident to walk the line, using his feet to create passing and shooting lanes to get pucks through. It just seemed like he wanted to involve himself as much as he could and rarely be stationary at the point, which is something I'll always notice. The second aspect was his transition game, as the same confidence shone through, and Cooper was impressive in how he played in the neutral zone. He was patient with the puck on his stick, always surveying his options, and typically making the right decision to advance the puck up ice. Whether it was skating it up himself, making the simple play to his partner, or spotting a forward up ice, McAslan connected on the right plays in transition. I watched Ajax-Pickering a few times over the Port Huron Silver Stick, and Cooper didn't seem to catch my eye there, but after his impressive play at the Draft Day Showcase, he is certainly on my watch list entering the season to keep a close eye on.

I've been paying specific attention to Cooper since he's been back in the lineup, and this was yet another really strong performance. He moved the puck incredibly well all over the ice, whether to secure a zone exit or to move a puck to an open teammate in the slot, McAslan's head was always up scanning for passing options and consistently made the right play. His mobility was a key asset, allowing him to cover plenty of ice, apply pressure, retrieve pucks, and just always be at the center of the play. Cooper's point shot got tipped in the dying minutes of the game to tie things back up and force overtime.