LA Kings: First round targets if NHL Draft started today, Part I
In Part One of our series, we look at players the LA Kings should draft if the season were to end today. Up first, a defenseman.
With the loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night, the LA Kings look like they are a team that will miss the postseason for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. Los Angeles has the sixth-fewest points, and certainly, they’d have a shot at landing another top-two pick.
Assuming they’re not as lucky as last season and based on the current standings, the Kings would have somewhere around the seventh-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. That also accounts for the Seattle Kraken guaranteed to pick within the top six. The draft is scheduled to be held over two days with the first round on July 23 and rounds 2-7 on July 24.
We’ll learn where the Kings will officially pick from in the coming weeks. Part I in our series looks at players to target if the draft started today. Up first, dynamic defenseman Brandt Clarke.
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1. Brandt Clarke, D
Vitals
- Age: 18
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 190 lbs
- Shot: R
Rankings
- Ranked #3 by CONSOLIDATED RANKING
- Ranked #4 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
- Ranked #5 by FCHOCKEY
- Ranked #5 by NEUTRAL ZONE
- Ranked #8 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
- Ranked #2 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
- Ranked #6 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
- Ranked #2 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
- Ranked #7 by SMAHT SCOUTING
- Ranked #2 by THE PUCK AUTHORITY
- Ranked #6 by TSN/McKenzie
Scouting Report
Clarke went overseas to the Slovakian men’s league to play with HC Nove Zamky just before the New Year. The adjustment to playing overseas and against men hasn’t been without it’s bumps in the road but Clarke has shown some development as well as the flashes of skill that had scouts drooling in the second half of last season. While his straight-line skating needs a bit of work mechanically, the overall mobility is very good. He is able to maneuver the ice and open passing lanes, manipulating forecheckers to give himself room to break the puck out with a pass or his feet. He needs to work on his defensive game as he can sometimes seem a bit overwhelmed, trying the desperation play just to hold his head above water at times. Offensively, the flashes of greatness remain. His ability to read and process the play, understanding when and where to jump into the play, is a big part of Clarke’s game. He has excellent offensive tools, none more valuable than his exceptional eye for the open man. The temporarily former Barrie Colts defender can spot a man a mile away and find their tape with a pass. His shimmy and shake in the offensive zone is also a trait that he shares with few forwards, let alone defenseman. Clarke remains one of the higher upside players in the draft class but unless he really starts to show some refinement, particularly defensively, Clarke may not be as favored to go in the top spot. – DobberProspects/Ferrari
Production
- 19-20: 6G, 32A, 38 PIM, -6 in 57 games for the Barrie Colts (OHL)
- 2021: 5G, 10A, 41 PIM, +6 in 26 games for HC Nove Zamky
Video
Pro Comparison
Final Thoughts
Clarke is one of several OHL players who were without a place to play in the 2021 season. Fortunately, he was loaned overseas to the Slovakian League but noted it was a significant adjustment going from playing against guys who were as old or younger than he was to playing against grown men.
“Yeah, it’s been a change,” Clarke commented in an interview earlier this year. “My first couple of games, I was shocked at how fast it was, how strong they were. But considering they were all in midseason form, it was definitely an adjustment. It’s a good league for sure, a lot of talent. It’s definitely been different from the OHL.”
At the end of that interview, Clarke noted that he was already playing on the top defensive pairing, so there’s obviously a level of trust from his coaches that the responsibilities aren’t too much for the 18-year-old.
As alluded to in the scouting report, you watch Clarke on film, and he is a dynamic defenseman, who possesses the ability to carry the puck through all three zones. What stood out to me most on his game film was his skill set to take the puck all the way to the net.
Clarke will play for Team Canada in the U18 World Juniors, with play opening against Sweden on Tuesday, April 27.