Coyotes' Clayton Keller hospitalized, out for season with leg injury
The Arizona Coyotes defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Wednesday but suffered a brutal loss in the process.
Per Alan Robinson of the NHL's website, Arizona forward Clayton Keller went down with a scary-looking leg injury with 5:15 remaining in the contest and was ultimately removed from the ice on a stretcher.
Keller was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, and the 23-year-old confirmed on Thursday morning he was still at the medical facility and won't play again this spring.
As noted by Tracey Myers of the league's website, Arizona was eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week.
"We know it will be long term, but he will recover," Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said about Keller's status. "We're all sad not just with him getting hurt but being in pain like that. ... He's the heart and soul of our team."
Tourigny added multiple Arizona players "were in shock" upon witnessing the incident and realizing the nature of the injury.
According to ESPN stats, Keller ends his season leading the Coyotes with 63 points, 28 goals, and 35 assists tallied across 67 games.
"I know that him and [Sharks defenseman Nicolas Meloche] made some contact, probably five seconds before that happened," San Jose coach Bob Boughner added about the play, per ESPN and The Associated Press. "It looked like he just lost an edge or lost his balance going in. He went in pretty nasty. Not good to see."
The last-place Coyotes next host the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.
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