Tippett ready to see debut of Coyotes rookie Clayton Keller

Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett saw enough from rookie Clayton Keller to turn him pro this season, but knows he’ll be facing a much bigger challenge at the NHL level.

Speaking at Coyotes practice on Sunday, Tippett praised the center’s development but said he’ll have to learn to manage at the NHL level. The Coyotes signed the former seventh overall pick to his entry-level contract on Sunday morning just a day after he played his final college game.

“I think he’s going to find out how hard it really is to play in this league,” Tippett said. “You know, young players, they’re, all the way through, they’re always top, top younger players. You get to this league and it’s all the top players in the world, not just a few of them.”

Keller, 18, had 21 goals and 45 points in 31 games for the Boston University Terriers this season, leading the team. He contributed a game-winning assist to help BU advance past the first round of the NCAA tournament, but the Terriers fell to UMD 3-2 in the second round.

The loss opens an opportunity for Keller. Had BU advanced, he would likely not have been able to join the Coyotes this season. Now he has a chance to get acclimated before training camp in the summer.

“Speaking from personal experience, when I first came to the NHL, I played 17 games at the end of one year after the Olympics,” Tippet said. “I remember looking back and thinking how much that helped me going into training camp the next year. You just know how everything is done.”

Keller will already be familiar with some of his new teammates. He encountered Christian Fischer and Jakob Chychrun during his time at the World Juniors. This season, in U20, Keller collected three goals and 11 points in seven games.

“It’s definitely huge to have some guys that you know,” Keller said. “Everyone’s been great guys and really nice and welcoming so it’s great to come in here and have that.”

Keller’s first chance at his NHL debut will happen Monday when the Coyotes visit the St. Louis Blues. A native of Chesterfield, Mo., the newest Coyote may have a chance to fulfill his dream not far from home.