When Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet watches Clayton Keller carry the puck and create scoring opportunities, he sees some of the same qualities in Arizona’s talented rookie forward as he saw in another first-year center eight seasons ago in Tampa Bay as head coach of the Lightning.
You’ve no doubt heard of him. HIs name is Steven Stamkos, the two-time winner of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s single-season scoring leader. Entering the weekend, Stamkos was leading the league in scoring again.
On the surface, Keller and Stamkos are nothing alike, really. Keller is 19. Stamkos is 27.