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LA Kings Select Brandt Clarke No. 8 – What You Need to Know

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The Los Angeles Kings have selected Brandt Clarke at No. 8 overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. We initially featured him in an article here.

Then, in the MayorsManor Draft Predictions article posted earlier today, we added the following:

Cutting right to the chase, the only thing Clarke needs to do is get stronger. While not an elite skater, he is more than capable of getting the job done. Some scouts would have liked it if he improved his skating or added size while having more time on his hands over the past year, yet we’re not going to downgrade him for this – especially because he’s able to use his sense for the game to compensate for his skating. Clarke also has great poise and easily uses his range and length to defend better than the majority of his peers. As any discussion of Clarke will include, he is the superior offensive defenseman in this year’s Draft class. The one draw back from an LA perspective his he’s a right shot and they already have Grans and Faber in the pipeline. Even so, his ability to drive an offense just might be too much to pass on. He’s a point producer with an ability to run a power play. Clarke sees the ice well and is a puck distributer. He won’t have to be coached into joining the rush. Another good offseason in the gym will go a long way in his efforts to become stronger, which will improve his ability to defend and contain. He has huge upside that will reveal itself as he physically and mentally matures. Full scouting report available here.

Additional info:

KEY NUMBERS AND NOTES

Vitals
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185 lbs
Shoots: Right
Team: HC Nove Zamky
League: Slovakia
Position: Defense

Statistics
Regular Season: 26 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 Pts
U-18: 7 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 Pts

Awards for 2020-21 Season
U18 WJC All-Star Team
U18 WJC Gold Medal

SCOUTING REPORTS

From Future Considerations:

Clarke is a strong offensive defenseman that oozes confidence. He excels in creativity and deception with the puck, creating space and leading transition. He’s an above-average skater, although his mechanics need to improve.

From HockeyProspect:

With his defensive and offensive qualities discussed, we get to the last area that Clarke has demonstrated an important quality. Simply put, this kid really cares. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell just how much effort a prospect is putting into each game, but it’s not hard to identify within Clarke. He’s willing to put himself in positions that make him uncomfortable for the benefit of his team. During puck retrievals, he’s willing to take a hit in order to get the puck moved up the ice. If he needs to knife through traffic even though he’s at a physical disadvantage, he’ll do that too. When he needs to physically initiate and box out opposing players, he will do what he can to make life difficult. If a play doesn’t go his way, we’ve seen him show some intensity after the whistle as well. All these factors come together to make us believe that the kid will continue to improve and develop.

From EliteProspects:

We couldn’t help but wonder if Clarke’s numbers in Slovakia aren’t just the slightest bit artificially low, too. It took him about 10 games to hit his stride, and he left Nove Zamky on a high note with seven points in his final four games.

Those numbers speak to the unrelenting aggression that punctuates Clarke’s every manoeuvre. He wants to make something happen every time the puck is on his stick, and he’s not afraid to push the play himself to see it through.

From The Draft Analyst:

Smarts and sound decision making are both qualities that Clarke can reveal throughout the entirety of his shifts. He’s a confident, decisive puck carrier who constantly scans the ice to his front and rear regardless of whether he has the puck. Most of the gambles he makes come in the form or reads or step-ups from within his zone, with the intent to swiftly wrestle away possession and counterattack immediately driving those decisions. Clarke understands the game and seems to understand his opponent’s way of thinking, and it is common to see him either deliver instruction to teammates before a draw or using hand and arm signals while vocally identifying weak-side threats. These are all traits of a studious individual who even as a depth player would still think the game outside the boundaries of his reduced role.

HIGHLIGHTS

We’ll update this article throughout the evening with additional information.

RELATED CONTENT:

2021 NHL Draft Preview: Brandt Clarke, Canadian Defenseman

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