Clayton Keller, a Coyote!

[Yuma]

http://arizonasports.com/story/1070600/coyotes-sign-18-year-old-draft-pick-clayton-keller/

Coyotes sign Clayton Keller to 3-year, entry-level deal

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Clayton Keller, seventh overall pick, is given a hat as he stands on stage with members of the Arizona Coyotes management team at the NHL hockey draft, Friday, June 24, 2016, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)



The Coyotes are bringing in one of their most promising prospects a little ahead of schedule. Boston University freshman forward Clayton Keller signed a three-year entry-level deal on Sunday, one day after the Terriers were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament with a 3-2 loss to Minnesota Duluth in the quarterfinals.

“We are extremely pleased to sign Clayton to an entry-level contract,” Coyotes GM John Chayka said in a release. “Clayton is a highly skilled, dynamic forward. He is a strong skater who has a powerful shot and great hockey sense. We are excited to have him join our team and finish the regular season with the Coyotes.”

Keller reported to St. Louis and took the ice for Sunday’s practice. The Coyotes’ are set to complete their five-game road trip against the Blues on Monday. Keller could play.

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Clayton Keller leads the team stretch in his hometown. #Yotes

11:10 AM - 26 Mar 2017

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Keller, 18, led the Terriers with 21 goals and 45 points in 31 games this season. Had BU won Saturday’s game, it would have advanced to the Frozen Four in Chicago, with game dates set for April 6 and April 8. That would have made it unlikely, or impossible for Keller to join the Coyotes this season because Arizona’s season ends on April 8.

The Coyotes selected Keller with the seventh overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Because there are fewer than 10 games remaining in the season, Keller will not burn the first year of his contract this season. The contract will kick in next year, assuming he makes the team.

A dynamic playmaker, Keller can play all three forward positions with most of his time spent at center or left wing, where he played during Team USA’s run to the gold medal at the World Junior Championship. Keller led the Americans with 11 points (three goals).

“His vision is probably his biggest strength, along with his hockey IQ,” Coyotes director of player development Steve Sullivan said. “He just executes high-end plays. That’s probably the thing that stands out for me.

“He sees it develop with his eyes, he tries it and he executes it very well. He’s a fun player to watch and it’s a skill set that we’re looking forward to putting in the lineup.”

They were showing highlights of his play in the last Coyotes game. Seems like a very smart player on the ice. In one highlight he launched a rocket pass right on the tape for one of his teammates to score. I am looking forward to seeing his play.

 

[puckhead]

5pm tonight he will debut at St. Louis!

 

[Yuma]

5pm tonight he will debut at St. Louis!

Nice! Maybe a couple shifts with the 4th unit maybe?

 

[puckhead]

We should hear who is skating together in practice soon and we should have a better idea what they're thinking.

Coach has also been known to improvise in game and switch up the line assignments based on match-ups too.

 

[Yuma]

He looked real good in the college playoffs. I imagine there is a speed/strength change to overcome for him.

 

[puckhead]

He was putting up almost 1.25 points a game at B.U. so it will be real interesting to see how he translates his game at the pro level. Yotes will be skating two 18year olds tonight, Keller and Chychrun.

 

[puckhead]

It appears today was an optional skate so all we know at this point is that yesterday he skated with Vrbata and Burmistrov. The suspense is killing me!