Keller's Path to Coyotes' Team History
Clayton Keller now sits third in points and tied for fourth in goals in the team history of the Arizona Coyotes. Here's what still lies in his way towards becoming the team's greatest offensive player.
By Ben Fisher
Before we get started here, let me introduce myself! Hi, I'm Ben and I'm coming over from the Vegas Golden Knights' beat. While I'm still relatively new to the FanSided community, I've been covering the NHL for a long time and have been a hockey lover for a longer time. I'm pretty excited to cover the 'Yotes, a team that looks to be on the rise - both competitively and from a business standpoint.
On Saturday, the Arizona Coyotes earned what was just their second regulation win of 2024, a tight 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. Perhaps more notable than the win, however, was the individual achievement of the night's primary offensive force.
Clayton Keller played an integral role in helping Arizona return to the win column, potting his 18th and 19th goals of the season. In doing so, he tied Jeremy Roenick for fourth in club history with 152 goals as a Coyote. He had already secured sole possession of third-place in points in team history (384).
Considering Keller is still just 25 years of age and remains under contract through to 2028, it seems all but certain that he will own most significant team records when all is said and done. Here's what he still has ahead of him:
Coyotes' Record for Goals
1. Shane Doan (395)
2. Keith Tkachuk (179)
3. Radim Vrbata (157)
T-4. Jeremy Roenick (152)
T-4. Clayton Keller (152)
In the coming weeks, Keller should find himself comfortably within the top-three goal scorers in Coyotes' history. His next goal will allow him to overtake Roenick for sole possession of fourth and leave him just four goals shy of two-time 30-goal man Radim Vrbata.
At his current scoring pace, Keller will likely have Tkachuk in his crosshairs some time next season. Of course, the true test will remain Doan, who still has more than twice as many goals as anyone in Arizona history. Even at a pace of 30 goals per season (he had 37 last year), Keller wouldn't be in position to surpass Doan for roughly another eight seasons, give or take.
Even still, that would put Keller at 33, an age where it's perfectly reasonable to assume a continued level of high-end production (Artemi Panarin, as an example, will turn 33 this year). If he sticks around Arizona long-term, there's a good chance he challenges Doan down the line.
Coyotes' Record for Points
1. Shane Doan (955)
2. Oliver Ekman-Larsson (388)
3. Clayton Keller (384)
Keller is mere games away from catching play-making blue liner Oliver Ekman-Larsson for second on the team's points list. From there, there's just one name left to conquer.
As with the goals race, franchise legend Doan is significantly out in front and can't be reasonably expected to be caught for years to come. If Keller managed to sustain his career-high point total (86 in 2022-23) year after year, it wouldn't be until the 2030-31 season that the No. 1 spot would be in reach.
Chasing down Doan won't be easy. Not only would it require sustained health and production as Keller advances through his prime years, but the Missouri native would also need to commit to essentially a full career as a Coyote. Still, given the bar that Doan set in Arizona, it's pretty remarkable we are talking reasonably about Keller eventually surpassing him.
For a team without the rich, decorated history of some of its contemporaries, the Arizona Coyotes now have the opportunity to see the growth of their new franchise legend - both on the ice and in the record books.