Coyotes select Clayton Keller, Jakob Chychrun in 2016 NHL draft
The Arizona Coyotes on Friday selected center Clayton Keller with the seventh pick and then swung a deal to get defenseman Jakob Chychrun with the 16th pick in NHL draft.
The 17-year-old Keller measures 5-foot-10, 163 pounds and was with the U.S. National U18 team during the 2015-16 season, when he averaged 1.73 points per game. He compiled 107 points (37-70) in 62 games. Only Auston Matthews, the first-overall pick by Toronto, has collected more points in a season for the USA National Team Development Program (55-62-117 in 2014-15).
The forward's career point total of 46-84-130 in 78 games is the second-most all-time for the U.S. National U18 Team. Keller is the all-time assists leader with 84 assists.
"It's awesome to be part of such a great organization," Keller said. "I'm just so thankful to be picked by them and I'm just really excited and ready to get started."
The Swansea, Ill., native spilt the previous season between the U.S. U17 and U18 teams where he moved into sole possession of first place on the U.S. NTDP career points list (71-118-189), passing Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane, who many have compared him to.
"I think I can be as good as him one day," Keller said referring to Kane. "I think I've always been a smaller guy, so I've always had to prove myself. My hockey IQ and my skills are just at another level."
Keller also medaled with the U.S. at each of the last two Under-18 Championships, winning gold in 2015 and bronze in 2016. He was also voted MVP and named to the tournament All-Star Team after putting up 14 points (4-10) in seven games to help guide the U.S. to the bronze.
Keller has committed to play college hockey at Boston University this season.
"Right now, BU is my top choice and I don't see that changing," Keller said. "It's a great spot and I don't think anyone would turn BU down."
The Coyotes originally were slated to pick seventh and 20th in the first round, but traded forward Joe Vitale and and Nos. 20 and 53 picks to Detroit for the Red Wings' No. 16 pick and the contract for forward Pavel Datsyuk.
Chychrun served as an alternate captain for the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League in 2015-16, where he recorded 11-38-49 in 62 games.
Chychrun was selected first overall by the Sarnia Sting in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection where he posted 33 points (16-17) in 2014-15 -- his first OHL campaign -- and ranked second in scoring among rookie defensemen. His first OHL season earned him All-Rookie and All-Star honors.
He said there was a lot of stress and thinking leading up to the draft, but ultimately he is happy to be join the Coyotes.
"Whenever a team trades up to get you, that means they really want you," Chychrun said. "That's just really special for me and my family."
Jakob Chychrun poses for a photo after he was selected with the No. 16 overall draft pick by the Coyotes in the first round Friday at the First Niagra Center.
The NHL.com scouting report on the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Boca Raton, Fla., native says Chychrun is a complete defenseman with the size, strength, speed and puck skills for today's NHL. Chychrun is an excellent transitional skater who possesses high-end hockey sense, passing ability, a powerful shot and the poise to make plays under pressure. He plays a solid two-way game displaying quick offensive instincts, is responsible defensively and rarely out of position.
"He was tough for us to pass at seven," Coyotes GM John Chayka told NBCSN. "He's a phenomenal, phenomenal person we want to make part of our group moving forward."
Hockey runs deep in the Chychrun family. His father, Jeff Chychrun, played 262 career NHL games as a defenseman with the Flyers, Kings, Penguins and Oilers. His uncle, Luke Richardson, also patrolled the blue line for 1,417 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs, Oilers, Flyers, Blue Jackets, Lightning and Senators.
"I think he's thrilled right now," his father Jeff said. "We've always said it's not really where you go or when you go, it's what you do when you get there."
