Utah names Keller 1st captain in franchise history
The Utah Hockey Club named star forward Clayton Keller the first captain in franchise history Friday.
Introducing: 𝗖layton Keller pic.twitter.com/N2Z1ZbUZ8G
— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) October 4, 2024
"I'm extremely honored to be named captain of Utah Hockey Club," Keller said. "I'm grateful for this opportunity and want to thank the entire organization for believing in me. I understand it's a privilege to be a captain in the NHL, and a huge honor to know that management, coaches, and my teammates have the belief in me to lead this team.
"It's a huge responsibility and one I have prepared my whole life for. We have a room full of great leaders and together, we will work hard to achieve our goal of becoming a playoff team."
The organization hasn't had a captain since Oliver Ekman-Larsson donned the "C" with the Arizona Coyotes in 2020-21. The Coyotes transferred ownership and relocated to Utah in April.
Keller has been an alternate captain the past two seasons. Lawson Crouse and Nick Schmaltz were also a part of the leadership group in 2023-24.
The Coyotes drafted Keller seventh overall in 2016. He's collected 418 points in 520 career games and is operating just below a point-per-game clip over the past three campaigns.
Utah begins its inaugural campaign Oct. 8 against the Chicago Blackhawks.