Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet doesn’t believe in sophomore slumps. But is there another way to describe how much of a step back Clayton Keller took in his second NHL season?
Let’s start with the basics. Strictly in terms of point-production, it was a down year for Keller. Although he did lead the Coyotes in points for the second time in as many seasons, the 20-year-old experienced a decline in both goals (23 to 14) and assists (42 to 33) from last season to the 2018-19 campaign.
But what caused the disparity?
It certainly wasn’t games played, as Keller played all 82 games for the second-consecutive year.