SALT LAKE CITY – As the Utah Hockey Club approaches the midway point of their inaugural season, there’s been a lot of new experiences and firsts for the franchise. One of those included naming Clayton Keller the first-ever captain in club history.
So, with the “C” proudly displayed on the sweater of No. 9, it begs the question. What type of captain is Keller?
Since the original move from Winnipeg to Arizona, the Coyotes franchise only had four team captains from 1996 to 2021.
After Keith Tkachuk and Teppo Numminen wore the “C” in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Shane Doan captained the team from 2003 to 2017.
Following Doan’s leadership, Oliver Ekman-Larsson became the Coyotes’ final captain from 2018 to 2021 before the franchise relocated to Salt Lake City this past summer.
Following training camp and just days before the inaugural game on October 8, Keller was named the first captain of the Utah Hockey Club.
After spending eight seasons with the organization in Arizona before relocation, Keller weathered a lot of adversity but emerged as one of the primary leaders both on and off the ice.
As the franchise elected to name a captain ahead of their first season in Utah, there was never a doubt that it would be Keller.
“As a leader, Clayton exemplifies the values of our organization and the identity we want to build for our franchise here in Utah. Indeed, we are proud to name him the first captain in the history of Utah Hockey Club,” President Chris Armstrong said.
“On the ice, he leads by example as one of the game’s premier players. Off the ice, he earns the respect of his peers, coaches, and our training staff every day through his relentless desire to get the most out of himself and his teammates. He is ready for the responsibility and will be an excellent captain.”
Like Armstrong pointed out, Keller has earned the respect of everyone in Utah’s locker room.
No matter who you ask, they all look to Keller as the clear and obvious leader.
“He really drives the ship of this team,” Barrett Hayton said. “He pushes everyone. He expects the best out of himself and I think that transfers down throughout the entire group. That’s how he is, that’s how he drives us, and it’s been that way since before he was captain.”
“He’s grown as a leader over the years, but he’s never changed and that’s something we all respect.”
Even newcomer Mikhail Sergachev, who has a plethora of NHL experience and won two Stanley Cups, has full respect for his new captain.
“Obviously, it’s well deserved. Guys know him, respect him, expect him to lead and he does. It’s great to see. So, I’m happy for him and the team is behind him,” Sergachev said.
Every captain in the NHL is unique. Whether they’re an All-Star caliber player, more of a veteran presence, a physical enforcer or some kind of combination, they each bring something different.
Related: Sidney Crosby Offers Advice To Utah Hockey Club Captain Clayton Keller
As for Keller, in addition to being an All-Star and leading the team in terms of offensive production, Keller tends to lead more by example and expects the same kind of intensity and dedication from his teammates.
But as he’s gotten older, he’s made more of an emphasis on being vocal as well.
“I’ve always just led by example. I haven’t been the most vocal guy. But as I’ve gotten older and played more games, I think I’ve been more vocal on the bench, more vocal in the room and I think that’s a step in the right direction,” Keller told KSL Sports.
“I always am striving for greatness every single day. Every single practice. The way I take care of myself at the rink and away from the rink, that’s something that means a lot to me and I hold myself to a high standard. When you have that from all your leaders, it sets up the room for success.”
Clayton Keller on how he wears the C: “I’ve always just led by example…I always am striving for greatness every single day…The way I take care of myself at the rink & away from the rink, that’s something that means a lot to me & I hold myself to a high standard.”#UtahHC pic.twitter.com/sOPU2iA5q6
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 29, 2024
But how does he approach being more vocal? How does he handle situations that demand his voice?
According to Keller, he takes more of an intense approach because of how much he cares.
“I’m pretty intense,” Keller told KSL Sports. “Especially during the games. It’s almost like I’m a different person at times. Just with the competition, how intense it is…”
“Everyone in here knows how much I care and sometimes I’m definitely a little heated…I usually am pretty fired up.”
Keller is a special talent and clearly means a lot to the organization. He pushed through a lot of hard times in Arizona but remained focused on his game and lifting the team to new heights.
While he may have a different approach to wearing the “C” than others, based on early returns, he’s embraced his new role and was a great choice to lead the NHL’s newest franchise.
The Utah Hockey Club will travel to Seattle to take on the Kraken on Monday night. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Fans can also tune in on air on the KSL Sports APP or on 97.5 and 1280 The Zone. Click here for the full schedule.
