Kings promote Brandt Clarke from AHL

The Los Angeles Kings recalled defenseman Brandt Clarke from the AHL's Ontario Reign, the team announced Wednesday.

Fellow blue-liner Tobias Bjornfot was placed on waivers in a corresponding move.

Clarke, the Kings' top prospect, is tearing up the AHL this season, leading the team with 32 points in 30 games. He tallied a pair of assists in nine NHL games in 2022-23 but has yet to appear in an NHL game this season.

Los Angeles selected Clarke with the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He tallied 61 points in 31 games with the OHL's Barrie Colts last season and helped Canada win gold at the 2023 world juniors.

With the Kings, Clarke could play on the right side of the third defense pair in place of Jordan Spence. He'll also likely see time on the power play.

Bjornfot, meanwhile, failed to tally a point in his lone game with Los Angeles and didn't collect any in his nine contests with Ontario this season. The Kings picked him 22nd overall in the 2019 draft.