Keller named the first captain in Utah history

Keller named the first captain in Utah history

Clayton Keller was named the first captain of the Utah Hockey Club on Friday.

The 26-year-old forward is Utah’s first captain since the NHL Board of Governors approved the creation of a franchise in Salt Lake City on June 13. Oliver Ekman-Larsson was captain of the Arizona Coyotes on September 13, 2018 and held the position until he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on July 23, 2021.

“It is a great honor to be named captain of the Utah Hockey Club,” said Keller. “I am grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank the entire organization for believing in me. I understand that it is a privilege to be an NHL captain and a great honor to know that the management, the coaches and my teammates have this belief. “It is within me to lead this team and I have me I have been preparing for this my whole life and together we will work hard to achieve our goal of becoming a playoff team.

Keller, an assistant captain for Arizona the past two seasons, led the Coyotes in goals (33), assists (43) and points (76) in the 2023-24 season, the franchise’s final season in the Phoenix area. He was a finalist for the 2017–18 Calder Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s rookie of the year, won by New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal.

“Being named captain of the Utah Hockey Club is a tremendous honor that Clayton deserves,” said Utah General Manager Bill Armstrong. “Clayton has developed into an outstanding hockey player and an even better person who has earned the respect of the entire organization. He looks forward to the challenges that come with being captain and will be surrounded by a strong leadership group who will be able to support and lead this team.”

Keller, the No. 7 pick by Arizona in the 2016 NHL Draft, signed an eight-year contract on September 4, 2019, beginning in the 2020–21 season. On March 30, 2022, he suffered a fractured femoral neck. After surgery and six months of rehab, he posted NHL career highs of 37 goals, 49 assists and 86 points in 82 games and was a finalist for the Masterton Trophy, awarded to “the player who exhibits the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to… represents the sport of ice hockey best.”

“Clayton’s development as a leader over the last few years has been amazing and his continued drive for improvement and will to win will radiate through to all of us,” said Utah coach Andre Tourigny. “He is an elite player and competes every day with intensity and determination. He is a person of high character, cares deeply about his teammates and has the respect of everyone in the organization. He will be a great captain for us and me. “I am very happy to be able to count on Clayton as our captain.”

Utah plays its first regular-season game on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+) against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

The Seattle Kraken are the only team in the NHL without a captain.