C Clayton Keller - Boston University, NCAA (2016, 7th, ARI)

[Mad Brills*]

leafs please.

 

[Coppy]

Man, BU's recruiting class is stacked next year:

Keller
Kieffer Bellows
Dante Fabbro
Chad Krys

Add Charlie McAvoy to that. They could potentially have 5 first round picks in next year's draft.

 

[William H Bonney]

A Keller highlights video from a game last month. Led the U17s in scoring last season and easily leads the U18s with 16-34-50 in 25 games. When he committed to BU, I recall reading several comparisons to Zach Parise in talent and compete level.

He has dogged determination similar to Parise, but I like Keller's skill and vision more. Definitely an exciting prospect.

 

[91Kadri91*]

He has dogged determination similar to Parise, but I like Keller's skill and vision more. Definitely an exciting prospect.

Where would you rank him among American prospects (include anyone who has/will play for the States internationally) eligible for the 2016 draft?

 

[William H Bonney]

Where would you rank him among American prospects (include anyone who has/will play for the States internationally) eligible for the 2016 draft?

On pure ability I'd put him 2nd behind Matthews, although I don't think he'll be the second American off the board.

 

[Maplebeasts]

leafs please.

This x100. If he was 2 inches taller and 10 lbs heavier, he would be a contender for top 5. If I'm a team picking 9th or later in the first, I'd be taking him.

 

[theIceWookie]

This x100. If he was 2 inches taller and 10 lbs heavier, he would be a contender for top 5. If I'm a team picking 9th or later in the first, I'd be taking him.

No he wouldn't be. If he was 2 inches taller, and 10 lbs heavier, he would have developed completely differently. He wouldn't be the player he is today. Players don't develop in a vacuum. The natural talent they have is often shaped around the contextual factors they grow and develop under. A bigger player plays the game differently than a smaller player.

This comment is one of my biggest pet peeves on this board.

 

[wings5]

Wonder if he's considered playing in Windsor over BU, both are great options.

 

[Maplebeasts]

No he wouldn't be. If he was 2 inches taller, and 10 lbs heavier, he would have developed completely differently. He wouldn't be the player he is today. Players don't develop in a vacuum. The natural talent they have is often shaped around the contextual factors they grow and develop under. A bigger player plays the game differently than a smaller player.

This comment is one of my biggest pet peeves on this board.

This isn't necessarily true. Your size doesn't determine your skill level or how you play, your practice habits and brain does. There's littler guys in the NHL that play like a bull in a China shop, and there are big guys who play much more of a finesse than power game. Just look at Brendan Gallagher, Brad Marchand, and JVR. It is certainly reasonable to expect Keller to play a similar style of hockey if he's only 2 inches taller (5'10 to 6') and 10 lbs heavier (170 to 180 lbs). I can tell you if the draft was based purely on skill and natural ability, Keller would be a serious threat to go top 5.

 

[Rogie21]

Wonder if he's considered playing in Windsor over BU, both are great options.

Keller recently signed his National Letter of Intent to play at BU alongside U18 teammates Bellows, Krys and Oettinger. I saw them play at BU earlier this year. Keller and Bellows have developed a dynamic chemistry and it wouldn't be a surprise to see both make the US Junior National Team for the WJCs.

 

[theIceWookie]

This isn't necessarily true. Your size doesn't determine your skill level or how you play, your practice habits and brain does. There's littler guys in the NHL that play like a bull in a China shop, and there are big guys who play much more of a finesse than power game. Just look at Brendan Gallagher, Brad Marchand, and JVR. It is certainly reasonable to expect Keller to play a similar style of hockey if he's only 2 inches taller (5'10 to 6') and 10 lbs heavier (170 to 180 lbs). I can tell you if the draft was based purely on skill and natural ability, Keller would be a serious threat to go top 5.

It most certainly is true. You're fooling yourself if you think that size doesn't affect how a player plays.

JVR isn't physical because he doesn't need to be. His size allows him space he'd never get if he was smaller.

Gallagher and Marchand play like demons from hell because they have the speed and ability to get in and out of corners in a way that bigger players can't simple do. It's how they distinighushed themselves as players who were smaller but could still be effective.

If Keller was bigger, he'd have focused on different skills as he grew up, and his talent (which you are correct, is something that is innate within him) would have displayed itself in a different way. But he's smaller, so he developed in a way that focused on using his skill to play a game that allows him to find holes in offenses, that uses stick handling to keep the puck in close areas when he needs to get around a big player.

You're right that Keller has high end natural ability but it's a fallacy to say that if you added size and weight to him that he'd be top 5. It's not necessarily true because he develop completely differently and his skills would not transfer the same way.

 

[Tatar Shots]

It most certainly is true. You're fooling yourself if you think that size doesn't affect how a player plays.

JVR isn't physical because he doesn't need to be. His size allows him space he'd never get if he was smaller.

Gallagher and Marchand play like demons from hell because they have the speed and ability to get in and out of corners in a way that bigger players can't simple do. It's how they distinighushed themselves as players who were smaller but could still be effective.

If Keller was bigger, he'd have focused on different skills as he grew up, and his talent (which you are correct, is something that is innate within him) would have displayed itself in a different way. But he's smaller, so he developed in a way that focused on using his skill to play a game that allows him to find holes in offenses, that uses stick handling to keep the puck in close areas when he needs to get around a big player.

You're right that Keller has high end natural ability but it's a fallacy to say that if you added size and weight to him that he'd be top 5. It's not necessarily true because he develop completely differently and his skills would not transfer the same way.

That's not how it works. Even if he did have those two extra inches he would be shorter than both McDavid and Eichel. Do those guys play a less skilled game because they are taller? I can guarantee you that if Keller had an extra inch or two at 16 or 17 years old he wouldn't have less hockey sense.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Keller just destroyed some pretty mature Princeton dmen, most with 1994 birthdays.

He's a legit two-way threat who plays a lot stronger than his size indicates. Never takes a shift off and doesn't get cheated. He played two shifts tonight which were almost 3 mins long.

Without a doubt a player worthy of lottery consideration. Find me one scout who doesn't walk out of a game without gushing about him. And there were a bunch of scouts here tonight.

I would say he's a lot like Doug Gilmour without the snarl. I would also say definitely comparable to Marner but stronger and a better shot.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Keller just destroyed some pretty mature Princeton dmen, most with 1994 birthdays.

He's a legit two-way threat who plays a lot stronger than his size indicates. Never takes a shift off and doesn't get cheated. He played two shifts tonight which were almost 3 mins long.

Without a doubt a player worthy of lottery consideration. Find me one scout who doesn't walk out of a game without gushing about him. And there were a bunch of scouts here tonight.

I would say he's a lot like Doug Gilmour without the snarl. I would also say definitely comparable to Marner but stronger and a better shot.

We'll have to see how he ends up. But so far, I'm impressed. Itisn't terribly often when you get a prospect with this kind of offensive skill who compliments it with a good two way game. As far as 2015 goes, I'd debate taking Keller over Hanifin and Zacha, no way over any of the top 4 though, and that's no slight to Keller.

 

[Rekus]

Keller just destroyed some pretty mature Princeton dmen, most with 1994 birthdays.

He's a legit two-way threat who plays a lot stronger than his size indicates. Never takes a shift off and doesn't get cheated. He played two shifts tonight which were almost 3 mins long.

Without a doubt a player worthy of lottery consideration. Find me one scout who doesn't walk out of a game without gushing about him. And there were a bunch of scouts here tonight.

I would say he's a lot like Doug Gilmour without the snarl. I would also say definitely comparable to Marner but stronger and a better shot.

He is elusive but to say he has a strong two way game is a lie. Yes, he comes and backchecks. To say he does this strongly is not accurate. What he does have at NTDP U18 is a deep and talented defensive corps that help to move the puck up and out of the d zone. Need to watch more than one shift or game.

I like this kid a lot. He is a magician at finding time and space for himself and teammates in the offensive zone. He rarely takes a hit and really is a perimeter player - but he does it very well.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

He is elusive but to say he has a strong two way game is a lie. Yes, he comes and backchecks. To say he does this strongly is not accurate. What he does have at NTDP U18 is a deep and talented defensive corps that help to move the puck up and out of the d zone. Need to watch more than one shift or game.

I like this kid a lot. He is a magician at finding time and space for himself and teammates in the offensive zone. He rarely takes a hit and really is a perimeter player - but he does it very well.

Pretty please with sugar on top, dont misquote me and then call me a liar. If something I said bewilders you, either reread the post or ask me to clarify.

I never said he had a "strong two-way game" or said he did it "strongly". Those are your words, not mine.

I said he was a two-way threat, meaning he can score while shorthanded, or quickly transition up the ice from his own end after making a defensive play.

I never said he was Guy Carbonneau or Steve Kaspar.

He centers the top PK unit, backchecks, and hustles. He also doesn't get caught puck-gazing. He also won several defensive zone draws against bigger, older centermen. He created offense on the PK, stealing pucks in the neutral zone.

I've seen him plenty. He's a two-way threat.

 

[HockeyGuy1975]

It´s amazing how little fanfare Keller gets. This guy is an absolute stud. He is of the Eichel/Matthews mold and calibre.

 

[AD1066]

It´s amazing how little fanfare Keller gets. This guy is an absolute stud. He is of the Eichel/Matthews mold and calibre.

Sounds like the Nicklas Backstrom Paradox, in which a player remains underrated despite near-unanimous agreement that he is in fact underrated.

Do you think it's related to his size (justified or not)? Most lists I can recall have him somewhere around the mid-1st, but scouts and casual watchers alike all seem to be raving about the guy and have nothing but good things to say.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Keller is a strong, shifty skater with a powerful shot, displaying brilliance and hockey sense strikingly similar to what Marner brings to the ice. And while Marner is a winger, Keller is equally adept at bringing you out of your seat while leaving amazed opponents on the very edge of theirs. He’s schooled amateurs of all ages — U.S. college seniors, European stars, NHL-bound Canadian juniors; it doesn’t matter. He’s a hard-nosed, fearless player with a lot of flash, but he’s been Team USA’s leader and go-to option for every critical situation – defensive zone draws, killing penalties, gaining entry into the offensive zone, etc.

http://www.thedraftanalyst.com/prospects/clayton-keller/




Keller could come close to matching Matthews' record. He, Matthews and Eichel have similarities when it comes to the NTDP. We ranked him 14th but he's rising.

 

[docbenton]

Keller is pretty special, looks every bit like a Patrick Kane clone (I've never made this comparison for another prospect). I think teams will be hesitant to take a 5'10 guy high when there are so many big skilled players in the draft but he may end up being a huge steal.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Can someone explain to me why Marner went 4th and Keller will only probably go in the 10-20 range? Is Marner that much better than Keller? Does this draft just have a lot more depth in the top ten?

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Can someone explain to me why Marner went 4th and Keller will only probably go in the 10-20 range? Is Marner that much better than Keller? Does this draft just have a lot more depth in the top ten?

Marner crushed the OHL in his draft year in a year when the majority of other OHL draft eligibles didn't put up big numbers or possess elite upside. You had McDavid, Strome, Marner, and Crouse (who noooobody viewed as a franchise talent) and then Zacha, who was a total upside pick because his OHl season was average. Konecny was always seen as a mid to low 1st and Senyshyn was always viewed as a 2nd rounder. Only 7 OHL picks in the 1st round.

This year, the OHL has more prospects with both NHL star upside and putting up big stats, so a kid like Keller from the NTDP gets overlooked. OHL'ers Tkachuk, Chychrun, Juolevi, Macleod, Nylander, Brown, DeBrincat, Sergachev should all be 1st rounders...I mean some even have Bastian and Stanley as 1st rounders (Not me).

Basically, the OHL is getting a lot of attention from picks 2-39ish in what's a down year for the CHL from picks 40-210. Last year, the CHL had a lot more to offer. This year, CSB really reached on ranking some guys who shouldn't have been ranked simply because they suck this season.

If Keller played in the OHL and had say 45-50 points, he'd be up there in the Top 7-8 conversation. In fact, some are already ranking him there.

He's is not a better prospect than Matthews, Chychrun, Puljujarvi, Laine and Tkachuk. After that you can argue he's as good or better than Nylander, Rubtsov, Dubois and Gauthier. I think he's certainly better than Macleod, Jost and Jones.

 

[Jerrico]

How would you guys compare Keller to Konecny? Who do you think will be the better NHL player?

 

[Dodospice]

In my latest draft rankings, I had Keller at 7, behind Matthews, Laine, Chychrun, Puljujarvi, Tkachuk, and Nylander and ahead of McLeod, Fabbro and Dubois to round out my top 10.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

The Draft Analyst: Keller and Bellows tearing it up

Could either player be classified as a prospect with franchise-changing potential? In a draft that we consider both Keller and Bellows to be in the upper tier of a somewhat top heavy pool of amateurs, the possibility exists. Keller, who stands 5’10 and weighs close to 170 pounds but likes to involve himself in corner play, consistently displays game-changing skills, even against older and physically mature defenders from the college ranks. Bellows is a bit sturdier with a well-built 5’11, 200 pound-frame he uses to win puck battles and tire out opponents. Their weaving and dipsy-doodling inside the opposing zone, reminiscent of what you’d expect to see from seasoned NHL’ers, has a dizzying effect on their peers. Keller is a magician within tight quarters, searching for second and third options when his first look is covered. Bellows will hammer away at enemy defenders with punishing hits while simultaneously controlling the puck and finding the open man.

http://www.thedraftanalyst.com/prospects/opinion-012516/

I've already talked about what I think of Keller. He's a special player. On pace to break Bracco's assist record and is going to come pretty close to what Matthews did last year (Remember, Matthews is almost a full year older than Keller despite having the same draft year).