As a couple of games around the league still persist on the schedule until Wednesday, the 2024 NHL All-Star Game is almost here.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A majority of the best of players in the league will be heading to Toronto for yet another installment of one of the greatest times to be a hockey fan.
Last year, the faces of the NHL took the spotlight and ran with it by showing their skill, but played little to no defense.
Now that it is going up to Ontario, the rosters have shaken up quite a bit.
But there is one persistent figure that will represent his franchise for a fourth time: Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller.
Before the break, Keller collected 20 goals and 25 assists in 48 games, including 14 points in his last 11 contests.
On a blistering streak at the right time, he will be able to showcase what he can do on a bigger stage when he hits the ice in Toronto.
Keller already demonstrated what he can do last year by being one of the most impactful players in the fun-filled All-Star weekend, but just how good was he?
Rewind
In the 2023 event, Keller scored three goals and added an assist in two games for the Central Division team.
From the defensive zone, Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones fired an outlet pass to then-St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko. Seeing Keller powering his way on his left, Tarasenko found the ‘Yotes star before Keller cut in front of Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner and scored with his backhand.
Going from end to end, Keller would then be on a 2-on-1 opportunity with Tarasenko before he passed to Tarasenko for a one-timer.
Keller, Jones and Tarasenko were not done there as they combined for a tic-tac-toe, one-touch play before Keller was the one who finished off the sequence as the Central Division beat the Pacific 6-4 in the first semi-final.
However, the run for the Central abruptly ended as they eventually fell 7-5 to the Atlantic.
Interrupting a passing lane between Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov and Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, Keller reached out with his stick, flicked the puck up in front of him and tucked it into the net one-handed.
It will be interesting to see what bag of tricks Clayton Keller has up his sleeve as the 2024 edition of the NHL All-Star event starts Feb. 1.
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Alec Cipollini is a reporter of the Arizona Coyotes and Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
