LA Kings Training Camp Preview: Brandt Clarke

With training camp just around the corner, we are previewing each player on the LA Kings roster. Up next: Brandt Clarke!

Brandt Clarke

Birthdate: February 9, 2003

Birthplace: Ottawa, Ontario

Height: 6’2

Weight: 185 lbs

Position: Defenseman

Shoots: Right

Draft: 1st round, 8th overall, 2021 NHL Entry Draft

2023-24 season

Brandt Clarke’s first full professional season was a success. Clarke started the year in Ontario and was on the first defensive pair, quarterbacked the first power play unit, and even saw some time on the penalty kill. The 21-year-old prospect was paired with many defenseman throughout the year but had good chemistry with Jacob Moverare early on in the season.

On many nights, Clarke wanted to be the best player on the ice and looked just that, especially early in the season. After the Reign’s opening night loss to the San Diego, the young defenseman earned high praise from Reign head coach Marco Sturm, where the latter cited that the former ‘wants to be the difference.’

After a strong start to the season with the Reign, Clarke earned a call-up to the Kings in January where he would rotate in and out of the lineup with fellow young right-handed defenseman Jordan Spence. In 16 games with the parent club, Clarke recorded two goals and four assists, recording his first NHL goal against the Boston Bruins in overtime on the road.

BRANDT CLARKE. OUT OF THE BOX. ON THE BREAKAWAY. FIRST NHL GOAL.

KINGS WIN!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/J4f5YoYaT0

— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 17, 2024

Clarke would finish the season back in Ontario where he finished with 46 points (10G-36A) in 50 games. Among rookie defensemen in the AHL, Clarke ranked first in assists, second in points, and third in goals. He represented the Reign in the all-star game and was named to the All-Rookie and second All-Star Teams.

.@brandtclarke55 with a shot from the left circle! 2-0 Reign!#ReignTrain | #CGYvsONT pic.twitter.com/KbNoM9FkeZ

— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) November 20, 2023

His strong play continued in the playoffs where he recorded six assists in eight playoff games, with Joe Hicketts as his partner on the first pair.

2024-25 outlook

With Matt Roy’s departure in free agency, that opens up a spot on the backend. Whether Clarke plays on the second or third pair remains to be seen as Spence will be fighting for that second pair spot as well. Inserting Clarke into the lineup gives the Kings a dynamic offensive-first player on that backend that they desperately need.

As solid as Roy was defensively, the Kings lacked puck movers on the blue line. Inserting Clarke to that right side along with Spence and Drew Doughty will give the Kings at least one puck moving defenseman on each pair. With the offensive potential Clarke has, there will be growing pains on the defensive end but you can live with that because of the offensive capabilities he possess.

How the coaching staff deploys Clarke will be key. He should see a lot of offensive zone starts, time on the power play, and maybe late-game situations with the Kings needing a goal in a six-on-five situation. With the possibility of Clarke and Spence finally being in the lineup at the same time, we could finally see a Brandt new style on the backend with Clarke in it.

Featured image credit: Mike Zitek/Ontario Reign