Clayton Keller may not receive the same fantasy hockey attention as some of the NHL’s biggest superstars, but the Utah Mammoth captain has quietly become one of the safest elite scorers available to fantasy managers.
After producing 26 goals and a career-high 62 assists for 88 points in all 82 games last season, Keller enters 2026-27 with a legitimate opportunity to reach another level. My projection for Keller is 30 goals, 65 assists and 95 points in 81 games.
That forecast is not based on Keller suddenly becoming a different player. It is based on Utah becoming a deeper and more dangerous offensive team around him.
Keller will remain the primary playmaker on Utah’s top line and should once again receive heavy usage on the first power-play unit. With Nick Schmaltz, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther and Mikhail Sergachev surrounding him, Keller has several high-end finishing options capable of converting his passes into assists.
The biggest source of fantasy upside could be improved special-teams efficiency. Utah finished last season with a 20.0 percent power play, ranking 18th in the NHL. Keller still collected 27 power-play points despite the middle-of-the-pack performance, suggesting that even a modest improvement could push him closer to 95 total points.
Clayton Keller Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 683 | 222 | 374 | 596 | -52 |
| Playoffs | 15 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 2 |
Clayton Keller Point Projections 2026-27: 30 Goals, 65 Assists and 95 Points
| Category | 2026-27 projection |
|---|---|
| Games played | 81 |
| Goals | 30 |
| Assists | 65 |
| Points | 95 |
| Projected points per game | 1.17 |
| Fantasy range | 86–102 points |
My projection model weights recent production at 50 percent, role and special-teams deployment at 25 percent, Utah’s offensive environment at 15 percent, and age, health and durability at 10 percent.
Keller has averaged 89 points over the past two seasons, giving him an exceptionally strong baseline. The model then adds value for his secure top-line role, first-unit power-play deployment and Utah’s improved scoring depth.
The Mammoth added Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee during the offseason, giving head coach André Tourigny additional experience, net-front presence and finishing ability. Trocheck can operate in the bumper position or win an important offensive-zone faceoff, while Lee has built his career around finding space near the crease. Even when those players are not skating directly with Keller, they should make Utah more difficult to defend throughout the lineup.
Why Clayton Keller Can Reach 95 Points With the Utah Mammoth
The clearest path to 95 points begins with Keller returning to the 30-goal mark.
He scored 26 times last season despite generating 225 shots. Keller does not need an unsustainable shooting percentage to reach 30 goals; he simply needs a few additional power-play conversions and slightly better finishing luck at even strength.
His assist projection is even more encouraging. Keller recorded 62 assists last season, and the continued development of Cooley and Guenther gives him two young teammates who could become more efficient finishers. Guenther reached 40 goals last season, while Cooley continued emerging as one of Utah’s most dynamic offensive players. The presence of Sergachev at the point also gives Keller a mobile, creative defenseman capable of keeping possessions alive.
Keller’s ability to stay healthy is another major fantasy advantage. He played all 82 games last season while leading Utah in assists and points and handling significant minutes on both the top line and first power-play unit.
From my perspective, Keller’s fantasy value comes from how consistently he creates offence without relying entirely on goals. Goal scorers can experience dramatic swings when their shooting percentage drops, but Keller’s passing, puck control and power-play involvement give him multiple ways to produce.
There is some risk. Utah now has more players competing for offensive touches, and the coaching staff could experiment with different power-play combinations involving Trocheck or Lee. However, Keller is the player around whom the Mammoth’s offence is built. His role is not in danger.
Keller also expressed confidence in Utah’s direction during his publicly released exit interview, saying, “We feel that we’re going in the right direction. We’re super motivated.” That confidence aligns with a roster that reached the playoffs and then added more proven NHL talent during the offseason.
For fantasy managers, Keller should be viewed as a dependable early-round winger with a strong scoring floor and realistic top-20 overall upside. My expected outcome is 30 goals, 65 assists and 95 points, with a ceiling slightly above 100 if Utah’s power play moves into the NHL’s top 10.
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