Brandt Clarke Bio
Brandt Clarke (born February 9, 2003) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected eighth overall by the Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Clarke has emerged as one of the more promising young blue liners in North American hockey. Standing 188 centimetres tall and weighing roughly 88 kilograms, he combines size with mobility and offensive skill from the back end.
Early Life and Background
Brandt Clarke was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and grew up in a household steeped in competitive sport. He came from an athletic family in which both his siblings and his father have played ice hockey, an environment that helped shape his understanding of the game from an early age. His father, Chris, played junior hockey in Southern Ontario, exposing the family to high-level competition and player development pathways.
Clarke developed through the minor hockey ranks in his home region, quickly establishing himself as a high-profile defenceman with strong puck-moving instincts. By his mid-teens, his performances had drawn the attention of major-junior scouts, signalling that he was on track for a top-tier amateur career before becoming eligible for the NHL Draft.
Path to Hockey
On April 6, 2019, Clarke closed out his high-profile minor hockey career by being selected in the first round, fourth overall, of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection by the Barrie Colts. The pick reflected his standing as one of the most coveted defencemen in his age group and offered him a clear development track in the Ontario Hockey League.
As a rookie for the Barrie Colts during the COVID-19-shortened 2019–20 season, Clarke led all rookie OHL defencemen with six goals and 32 assists. His production confirmed that he was a near-certain first-round NHL Draft candidate. At the end of that campaign, he was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team, as selected by the league’s general managers.
Brandt Clarke Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Clarke spent the bulk of his first major-junior season with the Barrie Colts, emerging as the top-scoring rookie defenceman in the OHL. When the 2020–21 OHL regular season was cancelled because of COVID-19, the league arranged for him to continue his development overseas. He was loaned, alongside his older brother Graeme, to HC Nové Zámky of the Tipsport Liga in Slovakia, where he posted five goals and ten assists in 26 games.
Clarke also represented Canada on the international stage during this stretch, winning gold at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships. He averaged a point per game and was named to the tournament All-Star Team as selected by media. The combination of junior production and international success strengthened his draft profile heading into 2021.
Draft and OHL Return (2021–2022)
On July 23, 2021, Clarke was chosen in the first round, eighth overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Shortly after, on August 10, 2021, the Kings signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. As the OHL resumed play in November 2021, Clarke was named captain of the Barrie Colts for the 2021–22 season, becoming the 22nd captain in franchise history.
Professional Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Clarke made his NHL regular-season debut for the Los Angeles Kings in a home game against the Seattle Kraken on October 13, 2022. He collected his first career NHL point, an assist, against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 20, 2022, becoming the seventh youngest defenceman and 18th youngest player in Kings history to record a point. The Kings then reassigned him on January 6, 2023, to the Barrie Colts for the remainder of the OHL season.
With Barrie in 2022–23, Clarke produced 61 points in 31 regular-season games, tying the franchise record for goals in a single season by a defenceman with 23 and surpassing the franchise’s all-time regular-season scoring record for defencemen with 158 points. He was named to both the OHL and CHL First All-Star Teams. During 2023–24, Clarke played the bulk of the season with the Ontario Reign of the AHL, finishing with 10 goals and 36 assists in 50 games, and was named to the AHL All-Rookie and Second All-Star Teams. He and his brother Graeme were both selected for the 2024 AHL All-Star Game, only the second pair of brothers to appear in that game together after Peter and Chris Ferraro.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2023–Present)
On February 17, 2024, Clarke scored his first NHL goal, an overtime winner that lifted the Kings to a 5–4 victory over the Boston Bruins. He appeared in sixteen games with the Kings during the 2023–24 season, registering two goals and four assists while continuing to split time between Los Angeles and Ontario. Going into 2025, he is established as a regular contributor on the Kings’ blue line and a key part of the organization’s long-term plans.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brandt Clarke has been described as a high-quality defensive player with excellent defensive stick control and tactical positioning. He is considered a new-era defenceman, best known for his offensive capabilities and for his eagerness and creativity when breaking out of the defensive zone and joining the attack. His blend of poise, skill, and modern puck-handling fits the profile of an offensively driven defenceman in today’s NHL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Clarke’s signature moments are his first NHL point against Pittsburgh in October 2022, his overtime winner over Boston in February 2024, and his record-setting 2022–23 campaign with the Barrie Colts. He also captured gold with Canada at both the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship and the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he helped set up the tournament-winning goal in overtime against Czechia.
Brandt Clarke Career Wins
Clarke has collected victories and championships at nearly every level of his development, from minor hockey through international play. His trophy case includes team gold medals with Hockey Canada and several All-Star selections across the OHL and AHL.
International Highlights
Clarke won gold representing Canada at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he averaged a point per game and was named to the tournament All-Star Team. He later helped Canada capture gold at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, recording two goals and six assists in seven games, including an assist on the overtime, gold-medal-winning goal against Czechia on January 5, 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
In the OHL, Clarke was named to the First All-Rookie Team in 2020 and the OHL and CHL First All-Star Teams in 2023, after tying Barrie’s single-season goals record for defencemen and breaking the franchise’s all-time regular-season points mark for defencemen. In the AHL, he was named to the 2023–24 All-Rookie and Second All-Star Teams after a strong year with the Ontario Reign.
Brandt Clarke Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Brandt Clarke was raised in an athletic family with a strong hockey tradition. His father, Chris Clarke, played junior hockey in Southern Ontario, and his older brother, Graeme Clarke, is also a professional hockey player who has been signed to the Washington Capitals organization. The two brothers even shared a memorable moment when both were selected for the 2024 AHL All-Star Game, only the second pair of brothers to attend the event together.
Personal Life
Clarke also has a sister, Mackenzie Clarke, who has played hockey at St. Lawrence University, continuing the family’s strong connection to the sport. During his early time in Los Angeles as one of the NHL’s youngest defencemen, Clarke billeted at the home of Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, who was then the team’s oldest player, reflecting the mentorship he received from veterans within the organization.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 calendar year, Brandt Clarke is fully embedded in the Los Angeles Kings’ NHL roster, with his entry-level contract cycle completed and a clear opportunity to take on a larger role on the blue line. His combination of offensive creativity and defensive responsibility gives the Kings flexibility in how they deploy their pairings, and he is expected to log significant minutes in all situations.
Clarke will look to build on his first NHL goal and his productive 2023–24 split between Los Angeles and the Ontario Reign. Continued growth on the power play, where his puck-handling and vision stand out, is a key area of emphasis, and he is also focused on tightening his defensive detail against top NHL forwards.
With the Kings pushing to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Clarke now an established part of their core, the 2025 season represents a chance for him to cement his status as a top young defenceman in the league.