SAN JOSE – On Sunday, San Jose Sharks coach David Quinn again saw firsthand Arizona Coyotes all-star Clayton Keller, the dynamic forward he coached at Boston University in 2016-17.
Perhaps, in some respects, there’s a comparison to be made between Keller and another Hockey East standout, Will Smith, the Sharks’ top prospect who could be weighing whether to turn pro after one season at Boston College.
Both Keller, now 25, and Smith, 19, were drafted in the top 10, are not big players, are tremendously skilled with the puck, and made major impacts in their first seasons at the NCAA Division I level.
In the season after he was drafted seventh overall by the Coyotes, Keller had 45 points in 32 games for BU, which advanced to the Division I quarterfinals.
Keller’s points per game average of 1.45 ranked seventh in Division I and one day after the Terriers were eliminated on March 25, 2017, by Minnesota Duluth, he turned pro and signed with the Coyotes.
Keller, listed at 5-foot-10 and 178 pounds, has 71 points in 72 games for the Coyotes this season.
“He’s been an elite player at every level he’s been in,” Quinn said Sunday before the Sharks hosted the Coyotes. “You’re talking about a guy that isn’t very big, but certainly overcomes it with his tenacity and his competitiveness, and he’s got just a world-class motor and a world-class brain. He’s got a great skill set.”
Since the start of 2021-2022, Keller is 34th in the league in scoring with 220 points in 221 games. He would have a higher point total if not for a Gruesome leg injury near the end of the 2021-2022 season in a game against the Sharks, as he fell awkwardly into the end boards at Gila River Arena.
Quinn said he’s watched Keller play quite often this year.
“This is usually the age guys start turning the corner in their careers,” Quinn said. “Obviously, the injury slowed him down a little bit, but this guy is just a hockey player and has been a hockey player his whole life. He’s always adapted and adjusted to whatever level he’s gotten to and he’s certainly turned into one of the lead players in this league.”
The 6-foot, 181-pound Smith leads Division I in both points (69) and points per game (1.77) as Boston College carries a 33-5-1 record into this week’s Frozen Four at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn.
“If Will can mimic a lot of things Clayton does, we’re going to have one hell of a player here,” Quinn said.
The top-seeded Eagles play Michigan on Thursday and with a win, will advance to the National Championship game on Saturday against either Boston University or Denver.
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Whatever happens, if either Boston College loses on Thursday or its season ends on Saturday, Smith will have to decide whether to turn pro and join the Sharks right away, or commit to returning to Chestnut Hill for his sophomore season.
Smith could also turn pro sometime this summer, perhaps around the time the Sharks hold their development camp after the NHL Draft.
The Sharks, as it stands right now, would have the best odds to win the draft lottery and select Boston University star Macklin Celebrini if they remain in last place in the NHL’s overall standings.