Kings draft Brandt Clarke 8th overall
The Los Angeles Kings chose defenseman Brandt Clarke with the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Brandt Clarke
Position: Defense
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 190 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Barrie Colts (OHL) / HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)
Clarke is one of this draft's most highly touted defensemen and finished the year ranked seventh among North American skaters by Central Scouting. He was loaned to Slovakia's top league this past season after the OHL campaign was wiped out by the pandemic.
The Ottawa native performed well against much older opponents thanks to a promising offensive skill set. In his most recent season with Barrie, Clarke had 38 points in 57 games, and he's also produced over a point per game while representing Canada at U-17 and U-18 tournaments.
What they're saying
"He is a dynamic player with the puck on his stick because of his puck skills and playmaking ability. He has the poise and vision to make high-end plays from both ends of the rink. He can beat opponents with his skill consistently. He projects to play on an NHL power play. The concern on Clarke is his skating as he has an awkward stride. He defends well in junior because of his excellent IQ and decent reach, but the pace will be a concern in that regard as he advances levels," says The Athletic's Corey Pronman.