Clayton Keller Reveals His Favorite Players to Watch

Several years ago, the NHL organization decided to bridge the gap between players and fans by employing videos and interviews. The burgeoning popularity of podcasts on various audio platforms like Spotify, Google, and Apple has further fueled this connection.

In a recent episode of the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, hosted by Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette, Arizona's hockey sensation Clayton Keller was interviewed. The hosts engaged him in a discussion about the players he cherished watching during his formative years.

Naturally, the hosts proposed a few names, and Keller concurred with both Sidney Crosby and former Blackhawks star Patrick Kane.

Keller recounted how he adorned his basement with posters of these two players. During his time in the USHL, he and his teammates would avidly watch games featuring Crosby and Kane, observing their exceptional gameplay.

At the age of 25, this right-wing star is entering his 9th season with the Coyotes, the team that drafted him 7th overall in 2016's first round. His time with the Coyotes has seen him participate in 442 games, netting 133 goals and contributing 209 assists, amassing a total of 342 points.

However, given the defensive challenges of the Coyotes, who are among the most defensively vulnerable teams in the NHL, Keller's career stands at a daunting -41, and he has accrued 171 penalty minutes.

Having reached the midpoint of his 8-year, $57.2 million contract, Keller maintains an annual cap hit of $7.15 million—a reasonable figure for a player with 86 points. The future will reveal whether the Arizona Coyotes aspire to regain competitiveness.

They possess a wealth of draft picks from other teams and numerous players who are sidelined due to injuries, necessitating salary retention.