Team USA announced who will play at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Utah Hockey Club forward and captain Clayton Keller wasn\u2019t included in the roster of 23 players that will represent the nation on Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston. Besides Keller, there were other notable players who weren\u2019t called to represent Team USA. His spot may not have been guaranteed, but it was still surprising to not see his name on the final roster.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s one reason why Minnesota Wild<\/a> and Team USA general manager Bill Guerin decided not to bring Keller along. The team decided to build a forward core that possesses a mix of speed, size, and defence. While Keller fits the description for speed, his 5-foot-10 height may have been the reason he was left out. Much like Montreal Canadiens<\/a> forward Cole Caufield, who\u2019s tied for third in the league in goals, but didn\u2019t make the team. His height is 5-foot-7. New York Rangers<\/a> and New York Islanders<\/a> forwards Chris Kreider and Brock Nelson each have size and scoring ability. Kreider and Nelson are 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4 respectively and currently have more goals than Keller. Team USA management had a vision for their team and some star players were still left out.<\/p>\n Years ago, it was difficult for players on the shorter side to make a lasting impact in the NHL. Most notably was Martin St. Louis, who was never given a fair chance with the Calgary Flames<\/a>. The Hall-of-Famer then signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> and ended up beating his former team in the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. As for Keller, he possesses all the skills of a talented winger that can score and set up his teammates on a nightly basis. However, Team USA took a different approach and chose size, leaving Keller out of the mix.<\/p>\n Despite his size, Keller is still one of the league\u2019s most dynamic players and Utah\u2019s best. The two 26-year-old\u2019s speed and puck-handling previously drew comparisons to a younger Patrick Kane, who\u2019s arguably the best player in Team USA history. Keller made the all-star game in each of the last three seasons while playing in Arizona. He currently leads all Utah skaters in scoring with 22 points in 25 games. Although he\u2019s on a slower pace with just seven goals<\/a> this season, Keller scored over 30 in the past two.<\/p>\n CLAYTON KELLER \ud83e\udd29 pic.twitter.com\/O4QpHmjvqT<\/a><\/p>\n — Utah Mammoth (@utahhockeyclub) December 1, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhy He Could\u2019ve Made It<\/h3>\n
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