Kale Clague Bio
Kale Clague (born June 5, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 51st overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Clague has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres.
Born and raised in Western Canada, Clague developed into one of the top young defencemen available in his draft class, known for his skating, puck-moving ability, and offensive instincts from the blue line. Over the course of his career, he has contributed at every level, including major junior, the AHL, and the NHL.
Early Life and Background
Kale Clague was born on June 5, 1998, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to parents Jason and Juanita. His father was a goaltender for the 2000–01 Lloydminster Border Kings, a team inducted into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame. His uncle, Trevor Hanas, is also involved in ice hockey, having played five seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) before a brief minor professional career.
Growing up, Clague attended Holy Rosary High School. He was a multi-sport athlete, playing both ice hockey and baseball in his youth. He helped the Lloydminster Twins Peewee AA team win the Western Canadian Baseball Championship in 2010 and also won the Alberta Peewee Provincial Championship.
During his bantam career, Clague established a new scoring record for defencemen in the province’s bantam AAA ranks, recording 35 goals and 77 points in 33 games, surpassing former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf’s mark of 65 points. He was subsequently named to the AMHL First All-Star Team in 2013–14 and captained Alberta to a gold medal at the 2013 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup. He also won the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament.
Path to Hockey
Clague was drafted sixth overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2013 Western Hockey League bantam draft, marking the beginning of his major junior path. He competed in four pre-season games with the Wheat Kings during their 2013–14 season, recording two goals and five points, before being returned to the Alberta Midget Hockey League. He eventually rejoined the WHL to compete with the Wheat Kings in the 2014 WHL Playoffs.
At the age of 16, Clague made his rookie season debut with the Wheat Kings, but a series of injuries limited him to 20 games. Reflecting on the year, Clague said, “It was hard to overcome those injuries and it sucked to sit out all those games. But I worked hard with our trainer in Brandon and got healthy again and ready for the 2015–16 WHL season.”
Following his disappointing rookie season, Clague increased his offensive output and recorded 43 points in 71 regular-season games while playing in the 2016 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. By the conclusion of the playoffs, he tied for second among WHL defensemen in scoring with 14 points in 21 games. As a result, Clague was selected in the second round, 51st overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2016 NHL entry draft.
Kale Clague Career
Early Career (2013–2017)
Clague joined the Kings for their 2016 development camp but suffered a leg injury and was forced to leave early after an Arizona Coyotes prospect hit him and he fell awkwardly into the end boards. Upon returning to the WHL, he was named one of the Wheat Kings’ alternate captains for the 2016–17 season and began by earning WHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 23, 2016, after registering six points in his first two games.
Clague signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings on March 6, 2017. At the time of the signing, he led team defensemen in points and assists and ranked second in goals with five. He was also named a WHL Eastern Conference First Team All-Star for his efforts that season.
WHL and Trade to Moose Jaw (2017–2018)
During the 2017 offseason, Clague was again invited to participate in the Los Angeles Kings’ rookie and training camp, where he appeared in two preseason games against the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights. By January 2018, he had recorded 47 points in 28 games, tying defenceman David Quenneville for the league scoring lead among defencemen.
On January 17, 2018, leading up to the 2018 WHL Trade Deadline, Clague was traded to the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for Luka Burzan, Chase Hartje, a second-round pick in the 2018 WHL bantam draft, and first-round picks in the 2019 and 2021 drafts. He continued his development with Moose Jaw while remaining in the Kings’ system.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2018–2021)
Clague made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings on December 21, 2019, against the Buffalo Sabres. He appeared in three more games during his first NHL call-up, averaging 14:34 time on ice per game. Upon returning to the AHL, Clague was named to the 2020 AHL All-Star Game for the first time, leading team defensemen in points with 16 in 33 games at the time of his selection.
When the NHL resumed playing for the 2020–21 season, Clague was named to the Kings’ opening night roster. On August 6, 2021, he signed a one-year extension with the Kings worth an annual value of $761,250 at the NHL level.
Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres Era (2021–2025)
In the following 2021–22 season, Clague was assigned by Los Angeles to begin the year in the AHL with the Ontario Reign. On dual recalls to the Kings, he registered 5 assists through 11 games before being placed on waivers and claimed by the Montreal Canadiens on December 4, 2021. As a free agent from the Canadiens, Clague was signed by the Buffalo Sabres on a one-year, two-way contract on July 13, 2022.
After three seasons within the Sabres organization, Clague left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets for the 2025–26 season on July 1, 2025.
Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose Era (2025–Present)
Clague joined the Winnipeg Jets organization on a one-year, two-way contract ahead of the 2025–26 season. He currently plays for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL while under contract to the Jets. His role within the organization centers on providing defensive depth and puck-moving capability from the back end.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although primarily an offensive defenceman, Clague is recognized for his strong skating, soft hands, and a powerful stride that he uses to dynamically transition the puck and create offence. He possesses a big, booming shot, poise, and a skill set that makes him difficult to contain when given space. Clague has described himself as “an offensive defenseman who sees the ice well and someone who works hard at defending in my own end,” and he has compared his playing style to that of Drew Doughty.
Notable Events and Milestones
Clague’s milestones include winning gold with Canada at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, winning a gold medal at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships after serving as an assistant captain, and making his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings on December 21, 2019. He was also named to the 2020 AHL All-Star Game during his first full professional season.
Kale Clague International Play
Clague competed in the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge for Team Black, recording one goal in four games. He later won gold with Canada at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, scoring one goal in four games. Clague returned to Team Canada in 2017 as an assistant captain, helping the team win a silver medal at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
Kale Clague Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Kale Clague was born to parents Jason and Juanita. His father, Jason, was a goaltender for the 2000–01 Lloydminster Border Kings, a team inducted into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame. His uncle, Trevor Hanas, also played in the Western Hockey League for five seasons before a brief minor professional career, contributing to the family’s strong hockey roots.
Personal Life
Clague grew up attending Holy Rosary High School and was raised in a family with a strong connection to the sport of ice hockey. He has Canadian nationality and was born in Regina, Saskatchewan.
2025 Season Performance
Clague signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets for the 2025–26 season on July 1, 2025. The deal runs through 2026 and marks a fresh start for the defenceman after three seasons in the Buffalo Sabres organization. He is currently listed with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
Throughout the early portion of the 2025–26 campaign, Clague has been tasked with providing steady defensive play and contributing offensively from the back end for the Moose. His experience at the NHL level, including stints with the Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadiens, positions him as a reliable depth option for the Jets organization.
Looking ahead, Clague’s focus remains on earning another opportunity at the NHL level while continuing to develop his two-way game in the AHL. His combination of skating, puck skills, and prior NHL exposure makes him a candidate for midseason call-ups should injuries or roster needs arise within the Jets’ defensive corps.