Men’s Hockey: Keller Signs With Coyotes

By: Marisa Ingemi

Less than 24 hours after Boston University saw its season come to a crashing halt, players are already on the move. As expected, freshman Clayton Keller has played his last game in the scarlet and white, and will sign with the NHL team that drafted him, the Arizona Coyotes.

Keller officially signed with the Coyotes on Sunday afternoon and is expected to be in their lineup on Monday night when the team faces the St. Louis Blues in his home town. Keller scored a goal and had an assist in BU’s short lived playoff run in North Dakota.

Keller isn’t the only Terrier expected to leave BU right away, with Boston Bruins prospects Charlie McAvoy and Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson expected to depart, along with Minnesota Wild draft selection Jordan Greenway.

It’s unclear how much the Terriers might lose, with Dante Fabbro, Kieffer Bellows, and Jake Oettinger expected to stay. John MacLeoad, a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect and Brandon Hickey, drafted by the Calgary Flames, could also be on the way out.

Keller dazzled in his one year of college hockey, leading the Terriers with 45 points in just 31 games played due to a mid season knee injury.

A seventh overall draft selection, Keller is the second top ten draft pick to leave early for the NHL in the past three years with Jack Eichel departing for the Buffalo Sabres two seasons ago.