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: 201 lbs

Position: Defense

Shoots: Right

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

2024-25 season

Brandt Clarke completed his first full season in the NHL and came out of the gates on fire. In the team’s first 11 games, the young defenseman recorded 11 points (1 G, 10 A), including two three-assist games. Shortly after, Clarke hit a spell in his next 10 games, recording two points (1 G, 1 A). For a young player, the ebbs and flows are part of the process, and Clarke had his fair share of those, but led all Kings defensemen in assists (28) and points (33) despite averaging 16 minutes a night and being a healthy scratch for four games by season’s end.

WHAT A MOVE AND ASSIST BY BRANDT CLARKE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4Ze96sxe9M

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 31, 2024

He was paired with Joel Edmundson on the third pair, and the duo put up solid advanced analytics at 5v5. According to Natural Stat Trick, when away from Edmundson, most of Clarke’s advanced statistics were just as good, if not better. Although it was a good season, his usage in the playoffs was limited, along with Jordan Spence, as Jim Hiller heavily deployed four defensemen, limiting Clarke to 13 minutes of ice time per game. In those six playoff games, Clarke scored two goals.

Brandt Freakin’ Clarke pic.twitter.com/gzgpPoN0Il

— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 24, 2025

2025-26 outlook

With Spence traded to Ottawa, that leaves a vacant spot open on the second defensive pair. I assume that role will be given to Clarke, with Cody Ceci sliding into the third pair role. His partner will either be Edmundson again or newcomer Brian Dumoulin, as Vladislav Gavrikov departed in free agency for the New York Rangers.

Like Quinton Byfield, will Clarke see his role increase? He won’t lead the team in ice time for a defenseman as long as Drew Doughty is still playing, but perhaps a role in key situations, such as the second power-play unit, if Hiller runs the five forwards on the first unit, could be in store for him.

Featured image credit: Nico Alba/The Sporting Tribune

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