Brandt Clarke (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
While NHL trade buzz continues to focus on second-line centers, the demand for top-four right-shot defensemen has not waned. Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson remains the main topic of conversation, but according to multiple NHL sources, many teams are wondering what may happen with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke.
“That’s a player a lot of guys have wondered about since the offseason,” an NHL source told RG recently.
“There were people surprised he wasn’t locked up. Blue chip prospect, but it didn’t happen.”
Clarke was drafted by the Kings eighth overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old, 6-foot-2, 201-pound defenseman is in the final season of his second NHL contract, a three-year, $2.5 million ($863,334 AAV) contract. He’s coming off a 33-point (5g, 28a) season and has settled into this season with two goals and five assists in 14 games.
“He’s the second pairing right shot guy for them, and really could be on the top pairing when all is said and done,” the same source opined. “No one knows where this season’s going for the Kings. The longer he’s not locked up and plays well, that value goes up and that trade interest does too.”
A text to another NHL source, though, confirmed that the Kings are not interested at this point in trading a player who has become a key point of their blueline.
“[Jim] Hiller and his staff depend on Clarke a lot, and I can tell you there’s no desire to move him right now,” the source told RG. “That’s a guy Ken [Holland] is watching closely to see if he’s a key piece going forward, so I don’t see them trading him right now.”
As the same source pointed out, Holland and the Kings’ efforts to lock up star winger Adrian Kempe to a contract extension have put Clarke’s and other expiring contracts on hold. Kempe, who has six goals and ten assists in 14 games, is in the final season of a four-year, $22 million ($5.5M AAV) contract. The 29-year-old, 6-foot-2, 201-pound forward, whom the Kings drafted 29th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, is a three-time 30-goal scorer who also eclipsed the 40-goal (41) plateau in the 2022-23 season.
“Obviously, teams are circling on Kenny because they know he’s gotta figure out Kempe and see where that goes,” the source said.
“So, they prey. But who can blame anyone for checking in on Clarke? If they decide to move on, other GMs will be ready.”
Clarke’s contract is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, 2026. The Kings can offer him a qualifying offer to retain his rights. If he doesn’t accept that offer, he is then eligible for an offer sheet.