SEARCH


Clayton Keller Gives the Coyotes his Demands for Staying with the Team

PUBLICATION
TJ Tucker
May 19, 2023  (3:40 PM)
SHARE THIS STORY

When your star player tells you he wants stability, you should probably listen. The big issue for the Arizona Coyotes is where do they even begin?

Meeting with the Bigwigs

According to Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman, 25-year-old Clayton Keller has met with Coyotes' management amid rumours of a trade request after the team's proposal for a new arena was rejected by voters in Tempe. Friedman states there's no official trade request yet, but Keller wants some assurances if he's to return.

"Clayton Keller had a meeting yesterday with the Coyotes... Now I want to make this very clear, there is no trade request here, but I think what Keller did say is that he wants direction, and reasonably quickly, on the future of the franchise on and off the ice"

Huge Task

Arizona is as far away from having direction right now as any team in professional sports. Their current arena, the 5,000 seat Mullett Arena, is viewed as a joke by many. The Tempe proposal has been rejected. A new home is a must before the team can even start thinking about the product on the ice. Arizona has made the playoffs once since 2013. That was the COVID bubble playoffs in 2020 where the team won a play-in, but lost in the first round.

Keller was the Coyotes' top scorer last season with 86 points, 28 points more than Nick Schmultz, who was second with 58. Keller just completed year three of an eight-year deal with Arizona at a cap hit of $7.15 million per season. There are many team's around the league who would jump at the chance to take that contract on. Arizona needs to get moving.

POLL
MAI 19   |   511 ANSWERS
Clayton Keller Gives the Coyotes his Demands for Staying with the Team

What are your thoughts on Keller's ask?

It's appropriate38575.3 %
No, he's going too far7614.9 %
I'm not sure509.8 %
LIST OF POLLS

TRENDING NOW
2025-2026
NHL STANDINGS
GPWLOLPTS
Sabres8250239109
Lightning8250266106
Canadiens82482410106
Bruins82452710100
Senators8244271199
Red Wings8241311092
Panthers824038484
Maple Leafs8232361478
GPWLOLPTS
Hurricanes8253227113
Penguins8241251698
Flyers8243271298
Capitals824330995
Blue Jackets8240301292
Islanders824334591
Devils824237387
Rangers823439977
GPWLOLPTS
Avalanche82551611121
Stars82502012112
Wild82462412104
Mammoth824333692
Blues8237331286
Predators8238341086
Jets8235351282
Blackhawks8229391472
GPWLOLPTS
Golden Knights8239261795
Oilers8241301193
Ducks824333692
Kings8235272090
Sharks823935886
Kraken8234371179
Flames823439977
Canucks822549858
COMPLETE STANDINGS