One of the brightest young prospects in the Los Angeles Kings organization is right-handed defenseman Brandt Clarke. The 20-year old Ottawa, Ontario native is currently on a 15-game point streak and it is continuing just how it started.
On January 6, 2023, Clark was reassigned to the Barrie Colts of the OHL and has taken the league by storm. Since joining the Colts, he has recorded 59 points in 30 games (21 goals, 38 assists), which is an absolutely insane stat line.
To kick off his point streak, he recorded an assist on February 15th against the Niagara IceDogs in a 5-1 Colts’ win. Two days ago, the IceDogs and Colts met again. But this time, it was a thrashing by the Colts in an 11-4 blowout win. Three of those goals were scored by Brandt Clarke, and he also added two assists for a five-point game and first-star honors.
Brandt Clarke with another hatty! 🎩🎩🎩 @OHLBarrieColts
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 19, 2023
The @LAKings prospect scores three times in the first 25 minutes of the game for his third-career hat trick 🔥 pic.twitter.com/fZwVSJKxnc
Clarke is one of the prospects who is arguably NHL-ready at this point, but then again he is only 20 years old, which means that his ceiling is through the roof if he is putting up this kind of production at such a young age. Quinton Byfield has recently seen minutes on the first line for the Kings and he is only 20 years old. So, the question then becomes why is Brandt Clarke in the OHL and not the AHL or the NHL?
It could be determined that the position of right-handed defenseman is one of the deepest positions in the Kings organization, which could be why he is in the OHL. But, in a report published by Mayor’s Manor on January 6th, this very question was addressed:
"“With careful consideration and after weighing all of their options, it was decided that returning Clarke to the OHL would be best for his development at this point. The organization is already struggling with ways to find enough NHL playing time for prospects Toby Björnfot, Jacob Moverare, and Jordan Spence. Making this move now ensures Clarke will play top minutes for the balance of the season.”"
He has done exactly that as he is on a 15-game point streak and proving why he was drafted in the Top 10 of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. And he is giving the upper management in the Kings organization a reason why he could be a great prospect to play in the NHL sooner rather than later.