The Utah Hockey Club now has a captain.
Clayton Keller will wear the ‘C’ beginning in Utah’s inaugural season in Salt Lake City, the team announced on Friday.
Keller was the former Arizona Coyotes’ leading scorer for each of the last three seasons. In 2023-24, he had 33 goals and 76 points in 78 games.
“I’m extremely honoured to be named captain of Utah Hockey Club,” Keller said in a statement issued by the team. “I’m grateful for this opportunity and want to thank the entire organization for believing in me. I understand it’s a privilege to be a captain in the NHL, and a huge honour to know that management, coaches and my teammates have the belief in me to lead this team. It’s a huge responsibility and one I have prepared my whole life for. We have a room full of great leaders and together, we will work hard to achieve our goal of becoming a playoff team.”
The 26-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season after debuting with the Coyotes for three games in 2016-17. Arizona selected Keller seventh overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, and he has 166 goals and 418 points in 520 games.
Utah opens the season on Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.