Keller's Third All-Star Nod Highlights Standout Forward's Perseverance

Clayton Keller will represent the Arizona Coyotes at the 2023 NHL All-Star Game in Sunrise Fla.,
marking the third time
the forward will skate alongside the league's most accomplished players.
This one, though, might mean a little bit more considering the road it took to get there.
Keller worked tirelessly this past offseason to return from a scary leg injury he sustained last season, and though the road back was long and tedious, Arizona's star forward never wavered in his belief that he would return to the form that earned him All-Star appearances in 2019 and 2022.

40 games into the season, the 24-year-old leads the team in points (37), assists (23), and is tied with Lawson Crouse with 14 goals. He's currently on pace to finish the season with 76 points, which would be a career-high -- 12 points better than his 65-point mark set in the 2017-18 season.
His road to the 2023 NHL All-Star Game this season, though, started with both patience and perseverance.
"For me it was being patient and letting my leg heal," Keller said of his offseason routine. "I had to go at my own pace to slowly get better and better every single day. That was good for me to see.
"It got a little bit better every single day, and allowed me to be ready for game one."

Keller's third selection will match that of former Coyotes players Keith Tkachuk and Teppo Numminen, and the three share the distinction of the most All-Star appearances in Coyotes history.
The Chesterfield, Mo. Native has some common ground with Tkachuk, as he was coached by Keith during his youth hockey days, where he also played alongside fellow All-Stars Brady and Matthew.
Having the opportunity to reunite with the Tkachuk brothers is something Keller said he's looking forward to during the All-Star festivities, which take place on Feb. 3 and 4.
"Two unbelievable players," Keller said. "Keith, I was lucky enough to be coached by him growing up, so I've had a relationship with him. It's definitely cool to be a part of that group with those guys."
Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said though Keller's offensive numbers clearly set him apart, his attention to details and commitment to continuous improvement also set him apart on the defensive side of the puck.

He has played an important role on both the penalty kill and power play this season.
"He's that caliber," Tourigny said. "He's a dynamite defensive player."
Tourigny never had a doubt that Keller would return to his previous form, but said the star forward needed to be able to find his way back under his own terms.
Midway through this season, it's clear he's done that.
"Kells is a guy who is really detailed, and yes, he was really worried about how he would come back," Tourigny said. "I think that was an important jump for him this year."
Keller, who just played in his 400th career game on Tuesday, said one of the biggest unknowns heading into the season was the Coyotes' rigorous travel schedule right out of the gate.
After going scoreless in the team's opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 13, though, he recorded at least one point in Arizona's next five games, including a three-assist performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 25.

He also enjoyed an additional point streak of six games from Nov. 5-17, has notched eight multi-point games this season, and recorded his first-career hat trick on Dec. 11 against the Philadelphia Flyers, where he scored the overtime game-winning goal.
The payoff for yet another special season is another trip to the All-Star game for Keller, who is starting to become a regular at the NHL's showcase of its top stars.
"I've always dreamed of being here, and I've always set my goals as high as possible and do everything I can to try and achieve those," Keller said. "It's so cool, there are so many people that made sacrifices for me to get here today.
"It's cool to be a part of that group, and I just want to keep going and keep being the player I can be."