Brandt Clarke, a defenseman for the Los Angeles Kings, came into the 2024-25 season with high expectations.
After Drew Doughty’s injury, he became a player who could fill those shoes offensively.
This season, he has not disappointed, but how will he adapt to the role full-time?
Kings’ Clarke Ready to Take On Pressure
The Kings drafted Clarke with the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Many thought he would have made the NHL immediately, but he was sent down to the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. There, he posted 59 points in 55 games. He performed well in training camp with the Kings the next season and would play nine games in Los Angeles, registering two assists.
From that moment, he has continued to impress Kings management with his overall game development. While his defensive game can still use improvement, he is better in his zone than he was two years ago. He is progressing in all aspects of his game and continues to be a blue-chip prospect in the Kings organization.
With Doughty’s injury, he has flourished offensively with the extra ice time, and he has put the Kings in a position to be successful with his play. His offensive play is there, posting one goal and seven assists for eight points in 10 games, including four in his last five games.
With the increased workload, Clarke has shown the league what he is capable of. He is a rare talent in that he does not shoot to score but rather aims for deflections and rebounds instead. His skating is not flawless, but he is NHL caliber. His instincts to jump into the play are good, and he does not cost the team when he joins the rush. His work in the crease and his positioning are improving as he develops.
The real question comes when Doughty fully recovers and returns to the lineup.
What happens to Clarke, including his ice time and role on the team? Does his position stay the same, or does everything see a dip?
He has played well enough to keep the workload and ice time he has earned since game one, but Doughty is a legend in Los Angeles and a future Hall of Famer.
It will be interesting to see what happens when the defense is completely healthy and ready to go if any players are demoted to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Ontario Reign or if they are traded.
Clarke has earned everything this season and should be no lower than a second-pairing defenseman when Doughty returns to the lineup.
PHOTO: Eakin Howard/Imagn Images
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