Coyotes 2022 Player Reviews: Keller, Gostisbehere, & Schmaltz

In this week’s final edition of the Arizona Coyotes 2021-22 offseason player reviews, we’ll take a look a trio of players, the Coyotes’ big three. The final three players are forwards Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz along with defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. After a couple underperforming seasons, Keller bounced back in a huge way this season for the team, establishing himself as the team’s star and potential future captain in the process. Gostisbehere who came to Arizona for practically nothing from Philadelphia, saw a career resurgence this past year. Finally, Schmaltz who’s play has been questionable since coming to the desert had himself a record-breaking season full of memorable moments and new career highs.

The trio’s play this past season is, without a doubt, the reason the Coyotes were able to string together some wins, thus establishing themselves as the team’s big three. Without the leadership and accomplishments from these individuals, who knows where the Coyotes would’ve been. With the upcoming season right around the corner, and all three players expected to be healthy when the team kicks off the 2022-23 season, expect them to continue to make an impact and set the path for the Coyotes through their rebuild.

2021-22 Season in Review

This past season was quite the spectacle for the trio. For starters, Keller set new career highs in goals, time on ice, and shooting percentage. He was eight assists and three points shy of setting new career highs in both categories, before unfortunately suffering a lower-body, season-ending injury in the last few weeks of the season. Overall, he recorded 63 points on 28 goals and 35 assists in 67 games while also representing the Coyotes in the All-Star Game for the second time in his career. With a full offseason to rest and get healthy, Keller comes into the season as the team’s star player, looking to pick up where he left off and build on his success from last year.