Kevin Allen

USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka’s long-term investments may pay dividends quicker than anticipated.

The Coyotes hope to sign prize prospect Clayton Keller as soon as his season at Boston University is over, Chayka told USA TODAY Sports.

TSN hockey analyst Craig Button, a former Calgary Flames general manager, recently named Keller, 18, the top prospect outside the NHL. (Coyotes forward prospect Dylan Strome, the No. 3 overall pick in 2015, is fourth on Button's list.)

“I think (Keller's) ready to take that next step for sure,” Chayka told USA TODAY Sports. “He’s been a dominant player at that level and the world junior championships. We think he’s a special player who can make an impact on a team.”

Keller, developed in the St. Louis area, is a 5-10 forward who has been compared to Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane.

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“You can see the similarities,” Kane said. “He’s not an overly big player, but he has the ability to make a lot of offensive plays, create a lot of chances.”

In 28 college games this season, the dynamic Keller has 19 goals and 21 assists. He had 11 points in seven games to lead the USA to the gold medal at the world junior championships.

He’s expected to be able to contribute like fellow Americans Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres) and Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs). The Coyotes took Keller with the No. 7 pick last summer and then grabbed Jakob Chychrun, from Florida, at No. 16. Chychrun has been a regular defensemen for the Coyotes this season.

“Tim Bernhardt is our director of amateur scouting and he told us that he felt that Keller could have played in the American League this year and we could have called him up and down,” Chayka said. “When you have the sense and feel for the game the way he does, you can adapt."

The NCAA college hockey regionals are the weekend of March 24-26 and the Frozen Four is scheduled April 6-8 in Chicago. The NHL season ends April 9.