Coyotes’ Clayton Keller announced Calder Memorial Trophy Finalist
Apr 22, 2018, 12:16 PM | Updated: 3:15 pm
(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Coyotes center Clayton Keller is a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, the NHL announced Sunday.
He led the Coyotes in goals (23), points (65) and was tied for the most assists (42).
As a 19-year-old, Keller won Rookie of the Month twice. He finished second among rookies in assists and points.
Keller, picked seventh overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, quickly became the Coyotes’ top offensive option.
His 65 points were the most by a Coyotes rookie since the team relocated to Arizona in 1996, according to the NHL release. His 10-game point streak from March 11-28 is tied for the third-longest in franchise history.
Keller is the third Calder Trophy finalist in the franchise’s history and the first since moving to Arizona. The other two, Dale Hawerchuk (1981-82) and Teemu Selanne (1992-93), both won the award as members of the Winnipeg Jets.
The other two finalists are Mathew Barzal, a New York Islanders center, and Brock Boeser, a right wing for the Vancouver Canucks.
Barzal led all rookies with 82 points and became the seventh rookie in NHL history to record at least 20 goals and 60 assists in one season, according to the release. The last player to do so was Sidney Crosby in 2005-06.
Boeser scored 29 goals, the second-most among rookies, and 55 points, despite playing in only 62 games. He was named the NHL All-Star Game MVP in January.
He would be the second Vancouver player to win the Calder Trophy.
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