Utah Hockey Club names first captain in franchise history

It was announced on Friday that Clayton Keller would be the first captain in Utah Hockey Club history.

This is a well-deserved recognition for the standout player on the team. Keller has been the clear centerpiece of the roster since the days in Arizona, particularly after former captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson was dealt to the Canucks last offseason. The seventh overall selection of the 2016 draft has evolved into one of the league's premier first-line talents, recording almost a point per contest over the last three seasons.

The 26-year-old winger established a career-high 228 shots on goal last season while averaging 19:15 of ice time per contest. He scored 33 goals and accumulated 43 helpers, totaling 76 points in 78 games. It marked his second straight 30-goal season.

He'll be the main part of Utah's offense in Year One, but it'll no longer rest entirely on him. The work that general manager Bill Armstrong did to build a roster during a rebuild in Arizona should start coming to fruition this year in Salt Lake City. Players like Josh Doan and Dylan Guenther are expected to be full-time NHLers for the first time, and 2022 third-overall pick Logan Cooley is headed for a step forward after scoring 20 goals and adding 24 assists for 44 points in his rookie season.