Keller hopes to build on stellar rookie season

Clayton Keller had a superb start and finish to his rookie season with the Arizona Coyotes, becoming a finalist for the Calder Trophy. In between, he went through a long scoring drought.

Keller’s goal for his sophomore season: More consistency.

Already one of the NHL’s top young players, Keller is hoping to take the next step in his career by mirroring the preparation of players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Patrick Kane — with an assist from his coach, Rick Tocchet.

“You try to watch guys like that and see how they create success,” Keller said. “Toc’s a good friend of Crosby’s and he’s always bringing drills that Crosby does, little things before practice to help us. It’s good to have that relationship with Toc to be able to ask questions about this player or that player.”

Arizona used the seventh overall pick of the 2016 NHL draft to select Keller out of Boston University. The 2016 draft was headlined by Auston Matthews, who immediately became one of the NHL’s biggest stars with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and high-scoring Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine.

Keller may have been a steal at No. 7, if that’s even possible.

Though small at 5foor-10, 170 pounds, Keller is quick, shifty and sees the ice well. He got his rookie season off to a great start, scoring in his first NHL game and piling up 11 goals in Arizona’s first 16 games. Keller was the Coyotes leader in goals and points at the end of 2017.