by Christopher Nardella, Staff Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
MONTREAL, QC. — As the Montreal Canadiens march into Buffalo, New York on the June 24th weekend with a top-10 pick, the possibilities are only limited by the team’s ability to diagnose its deficiencies. With an average rank of 11th overall by the top-five scouting agencies, U.S. National Development Program superstar Clayton Keller might provide the most peerless value in this deep top-20 of the draft. The former Shattuck St. Mary’s attendee will step into First Niagara Centre in late June with the entirely correct conjecture that his name will be called within the first 15 picks of the draft.
Clayton Keller, C, US NTDP (USHL)
5-10, 170 lbs., Shoots L, United States | @claytonkeller37
2015-’16: 62 GP, 37 G, 70 A, 107 PTS (U.S. National U18 Team)CSB: No. 9 | ISS: No. 12 | THN: No. 11 | HP: No. 12 | FC: No. 9
Heading into his final season with the NTDP, Keller`s talent was indisputable with his statistics backing that fairly evident claim. This season, the amalgam of an increased role on the team and the arrival of linemate Kieffer Bellows had Keller supplanting, in my eyes, any other player coming out of his the United States. The shifty centerman is the third-highest ranked American in the draft, with only Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews superseding the projected 11th overall pick.
Keller’s 37 goals were only surpassed by Bellows’ 50 and led the team in points by 26, recording 107 in 62 games. The 17-year old’s 70 assists during this past season were the most all-time in a single campaign for the NTDP. His 189 points over his NTDP career were also the most in the program’s history, a program that’s harbored the likes of Patrick Kane, although he played only one season in the under-18 program. Kane’s points-per-game was at a resplendent 1.53 during his time in the program, with Keller topping that at 1.54 over 57 fewer games.
Keller’s strong suits aren’t antithetical to Kane’s with phenomenal vision, passing ability and the ability to create offense every time has the puck on his stick. As was previously mentioned the 5-foot-10-inch centerman has excellent vision, with the habit and talent to make cross-seam passes with ease and completing them on most occasions. His ability to thread the needle also extends to crowded areas where he can find open teammates through the guise of the opposing team. Confidence isn’t foreign to the Swansea, Illinois native, who makes cross-body, and extremely creative passes and ways to find his linemates in open spaces. When at full speed, Keller has the ability to take a step back and find passing lanes others wouldn’t have been exposed to had they not had his vision and creativity.
His sneaky shot often imposes mental anguish on opposing goaltenders who often have the preconceived notion that the 170-pound centerman is solely a playmaker. As is evidenced by his 37 tallies in 2015-’16, the bantam forward Keller possesses an above average shot that is made all the better by the deceitful nature of his abilities. His one-on-one play is also to be marveled at with the ability to either blow by the defenceman with his redoubtable speed or put the puck through opposing players as with his hands that, I would grade as in the top-two of the 2016 class.
ICYMI | Over the weekend, @ClaytonKeller37 became the #NTDP's all-time points and single-season assists leader. pic.twitter.com/tNz1AMcWaX
— USA Hockey NTDP (@USAHockeyNTDP) April 19, 2016
Although proficient in the offensive end, the young American’s defensive game isn’t a liability to the same extent as is the norm with players with coextensive levels of skill. He has a good ability to close in on players with the puck on and off their stick, along with excellent awareness in his own end. His ever-moving stick provides the opposition with issues when attempting to find passing lanes. Keller’s speed presents him with the option of being deeply entrenched in his own end and executes a dexterous breakout regardless. The top prospect doesn’t come without his faults however, with the propensity to prematurely exit the defensive zone to create a scoring chance. He sometimes gets caught when there is a blip in the breakout and the puck is turned over as his naturally overpowering offensive instincts provide the opposition with an opportunity as he attempts to return to his own end while at full speed headed towards the neutral zone.
Keller is committed to Boston University in 2016-’17; on a B.U. team chock full of talent with the likes of Bellows, Chad Krys, Dante Fabbro and Charlie McAvoy among others committed there next season. His attendance at B.U. isn’t a certainty, however, with the Windsor Spitfires holding his O.H.L. rights, a team that won 40 games last season without the presence of longtime head coach Bob Boughner, who is an assistant coach in San Jose. Should he end up in Windsor, he would be playing alongside fellow projected first round picks Logan Brown and Mikhail Sergachev, should they not make their N.H.L. teams, with Brendan Lemieux and leading scorer Christian Fischer on their way out.
A problem could arise in the form of his size being an issue when playing at center. Tyler Johnson, whom the majority of relatively diminutive players compare themselves nowadays, does play down the middle with success but this is an anomaly. That being said, Keller’s talent is so great he could be a part of the exception, not the rule. Especially when considering the team’s prospect depth at the center position, in the form of Michael McCarron and the youth of Alex Galchenyuk, it wouldn’t be inconceivable to see Keller moved to the wing. His abilities do play better when he’s at his natural position, as he has the puck on his stick with more consistency and can subsequently contribute to his team’s cause in a greater capacity.
Considering the Canadiens’ inferiority complex when it comes to their size it would be an unlikely scenario to see Keller in a Canadiens uniform in the future. However, with the impending departure of maligned centerman David Desharnais, the winding down of Tomas Plekanec’s contract and the infusion of McCarron, and eventually Nikita Scherbak, into the Canadiens lineup the pick might be worth consideration. Despite those theoretics with Sven Andrighetto, whose future in the city is yet to be determined, Daniel Carr and Artturi Lehkonen, who’s likely to come from overseas, permeating the roster, changes would have to be made to see 2016 top-prospect Clayton Keller join the Canadiens.
Need to catch up on potential draftees? You will find the All Habs draft archive here or use the quick links below to check out our most recent articles on the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
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