Team USA announced who will play at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Utah Hockey Club forward and captain Clayton Keller wasn’t included in the roster of 23 players that will represent the nation on Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston. Besides Keller, there were other notable players who weren’t called to represent Team USA. His spot may not have been guaranteed, but it was still surprising to not see his name on the final roster.
Puzzling Decision to Leave Utah Forward off Roster
Why He Didn’t Make It
There’s one reason why Minnesota Wild and Team USA general manager Bill Guerin decided not to bring Keller along. The team decided to build a forward core that possesses a mix of speed, size, and defence. While Keller fits the description for speed, his 5-foot-10 height may have been the reason he was left out. Much like Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield, who’s tied for third in the league in goals, but didn’t make the team. His height is 5-foot-7. New York Rangers and New York Islanders forwards Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson each have size and scoring ability. Kreider and Nelson are 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 respectively and currently have more goals than Keller. Team USA management had a vision for their team and some star players were still left out.
Years ago, it was difficult for players on the shorter side to make a lasting impact in the NHL. Most notably was Martin St. Louis, who was never given a fair chance with the Calgary Flames. The Hall-of-Famer then signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning and ended up beating his former team in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. As for Keller, he possesses all the skills of a talented winger that can score and set up his teammates on a nightly basis. However, Team USA took a different approach and chose size, leaving Keller out of the mix.
Why He Could’ve Made It
Despite his size, Keller is still one of the league’s most dynamic players and Utah’s best. The two 26-year-old’s speed and puck-handling previously drew comparisons to a younger Patrick Kane, who’s arguably the best player in Team USA history. Keller made the all-star game in each of the last three seasons while playing in Arizona. He currently leads all Utah skaters in scoring with 22 points in 25 games. Although he’s on a slower pace with just seven goals this season, Keller scored over 30 in the past two.
CLAYTON KELLER
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— Utah Hockey Club (@utahhockeyclub) December 1, 2024
Keller’s trademark is his ability to drive plays. He’s usually the one who carries the puck up the ice at even strength and the power-play. With more assists than goals in his career, Keller is known for being an elite playmaker because he is one of the best passers of the puck. He’s able to spread the ice and pick out an open teammate from any distance. Team USA has a good balance of scoring, speed, and physicality. However, it’s unknown if they have enough players who are able to set plays up. That could be one area where Keller could’ve made a big impact for Team USA.
Only Way the Forward Gets on the Roster
Although all four teams carry an extra forward, there’s still a small chance Keller is able to play for Team USA. If there’s an injury and a player is unable to dress at all, the player can be replaced. However, one of Caufield and Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres would probably be chosen ahead of Keller. It depends on who Team USA chooses, but that’s the only way Keller could play. If he continues to have a good season by then, maybe Keller will be chosen if a spot opens up.
Main Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
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