Clayton Keller is an American professional ice hockey right winger and captain of the Utah Hockey Club in the National Hockey League. Standing 5'10" and weighing 175 pounds, Keller has evolved from a teenage prodigy into one of the NHL's most dynamic offensive forwards. He was selected seventh overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2016 NHL Draft and quickly became the franchise's cornerstone player.
Born in Swansea, Illinois, Keller developed his skills through the USA Hockey National Team Development Program before attending Boston University for one season in 2016-17. At BU, he won the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award and the Tim Taylor Award as the top NCAA Division I freshman. His dominant college season cemented his status as an NHL-ready talent entering the draft.
Keller's NHL debut in 2017-18 was electric. He led the Coyotes with 65 points as a rookie, recording 23 goals and 40 assists to set franchise rookie records across all three categories. He earned the Team MVP, Leading Scorer, and Three Star awards. By his second season, he had reached 100 career points in just 132 games, breaking Max Domi's franchise record for fastest to the milestone.
A devastating broken femur in March 2022 threatened to derail his career. After crashing into the boards against the San Jose Sharks, Keller underwent surgery and spent months rehabilitating, training four times daily. His comeback was remarkable: he posted a career-high 86 points in 2022-23, tying the Coyotes' single-season points record and earning his third All-Star selection.
When the franchise relocated to Utah for the 2024-25 season, Keller was named the first captain in franchise history. He responded with 90 points in 81 games, leading the team in scoring. On January 2, 2026, he was named to the United States roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, cementing his standing among America's elite hockey talent.