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TOP 100 NHL PLAYERS: 47. CLAYTON KELLER - April 21, 2025 – Vol. 78, Issue 10 - Carol Schram
WHEN THE PLAYERS and staff of the Utah Hockey Club set up shop in the Beehive State this fall, they found themselves in a unique position. Though many had worked together as part of the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes organization, the Utah franchise was technically brand new.
In October, longtime Coyote Clayton Keller was named Utah’s first captain. “We talked about it a little bit at the end of summer, and I found out before our team-bonding trip to start the year,” Keller said. “It’s a special feeling and means the world to me.”
By season’s end, he was also the franchise record-holder in points and assists after a standout 2024-25 campaign.
Speedy, smart and skilled, Keller employs a style similar to that of one of his idols, Patrick Kane. He also revered Sidney Crosby, and Keller followed in Crosby’s footsteps when he went to Minnesota’s Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school at age 14. “My dad had always told me, ‘That’s who you want to be when you grow up,’ ” Keller said. “The way (Crosby) carries himself, his character and all the great things that you hear about him. I loved watching him play. Anytime he or Patrick Kane were playing, my eyes were glued to the TV.”
Utah defenseman Ian Cole won Stanley Cups with Crosby and the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. He likes what he has seen from Keller as a leader. “First and foremost, he’s an elite hockey player with elite skill,” Cole said. “Seeing and hearing how he’s stepped into his own with the ‘C’ on his chest has been great. He’s not a real in-your-face captain per se, but what he brings to our team and leading by example has been awesome.”
Hailing from the St. Louis area, Keller didn’t come from a hockey family. However, Blues alumni are a force in the region, and a trio of NHL veterans helped him learn the game. “Keith Tkachuk, Al MacInnis, Jeff Brown,” Keller said. “All those guys sacrificed their time. Maybe at the time, we didn’t realize how lucky we were.”
Tkachuk, who played until 2010, was still in the NHL when he started stopping by Keller’s youth-hockey practices, lending a hand and keeping an eye on his oldest son, Matthew, Keller’s frequent linemate. Brown spent parts of five seasons in St. Louis in the early 1990s, then returned to the area after his 1998 retirement to coach and to raise his family, including son Logan.
The boys’ draft day in 2016 proved transformational for St. Louis youth hockey. Tkachuk went sixth to Calgary, and Keller was selected one spot later by Arizona. Brown, Luke Kunin and Trent Frederic also went in the first round, and goaltender Joseph Woll was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 3. All six players were products of the St. Louis AAA Blues program.
After being drafted out of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, Keller spent a year at Boston University and also won gold with Team USA at the 2017 World Junior Championship in Montreal.
On March 27, 2017, he made his NHL debut, briefly crossing paths with Shane Doan before Arizona’s Mr. Everything hung up his skates at the end of that season. “He was such a great leader, captain,” Keller said. “Checks all the boxes.”
As a holdover from the Winnipeg Jets 1.0, who moved to the desert in 1996, Doan claimed top spot in most key categories of the franchise’s record book before retiring at 40 after 21 seasons with the club.
After 520 games with the Coyotes over seven-plus seasons, Keller claimed seventh place all-time in points (418) and eighth in goals (166) and assists (252). As he sets new standards in Utah, one of his teammates is Doan’s son Josh – another manifestation of the fathers-and-sons theme that has echoed throughout Keller’s career.
It’s never easy to move from the familiar to the unknown, but Keller and his Hockey Club teammates have appreciated the warm welcome they’ve received from the fans in Salt Lake City. “They always say, ‘We’re super happy to have you guys,’ and everyone’s kids are excited,” Keller said. “It’s definitely a special feeling and super cool to be the first team in Utah.”
Utah Mammoth Issue 2025 Qualifying Offers
The Utah Mammoth have issued their 2025 qualifying offers as the deadline approaches. I can confirm that they have only issued a QO to Jack McBain.
BREAKING: Utah Mammoth Trade Matias Maccelli To Maple Leafs
<b>Breaking News: </b>The Utah Mammoth have traded Matias Maccelli to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in 2027. The conditions on the pick are that it upgrades to a 2029 second if Maccelli scores more than 51 points this season and the Maple Leafs qualify for the playoffs.
Mammoth Could Be Hunting Big Names In Free Agency
With the 2025 NHL free agency right around the corner, there have been plenty of teams saying that the Utah Mammoth are the team to watch.
Utah Mammoth's 2025 Draft Recap
Now that the 2025 NHL Draft is officially over, it is time to put a bow on the draft that was. The Utah Mammoth made seven total picks in the draft and did fairly well. Before we transition to free agency, let's recap who they picked and what either myself, Tony Ferrari from the Hockey News or Elite Prospects had to say about each player.
BREAKING: Utah Acquires J.J. Peterka From Sabres In Late Night Trade
The Utah Mammoth have acquired J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres in a late-night trade, as per Elliotte Friedman. The deal is pending a trade call. Friedman reported that the return is Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan going back to the Buffalo Sabres.