Prospect Info: At 8th Overall the Kings Select Brandt Clarke

[KopitarGOAT420]

Clarke & Edmundson look pretty damn good together. Allowing Clarke to do his thing, Edmundson playing solid relatively speaking.

Definitely agree.

The contract still isn't great but Edmundson has been better than expected IMO. Sure there's a couple annoying/unnecessary penalties and a few missed defensive assignments at times but you're right - He and Clarke have actually looked like a damn solid pair most of the time.

If Clarke keeps playing like this, the Kings' blue line all of the sudden goes from 'mid' to 'pretty damn good' when Doughty gets back.

Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Clarke
Edmundson - Spence

That actually looks like a pretty nice D core with the emergence of Clarke as a young star. Hopefully when Doughty is back they leave Clarke on PP1 and have Doughty focus more on PK / 5 on 5. Worst case scenario Doughty will run PP1 and Clarke will run PP2 - Not super ideal but I'd still have faith in Clarke putting up points with PP2 time and strong play 5 on 5.

This kid is the real deal and exactly what LA's defense has needed. I'm telling you guys when Doughty is back the Kings will be seriously cooking.

 

[Ghetty Green]

Clarke & Edmundson look pretty damn good together. Allowing Clarke to do his thing, Edmundson playing solid relatively speaking.

According to this board Edmundson sucks tho

 

[Hockeyville USA]

According to this board Edmundson sucks tho

He probably makes a little too much, but this isn't like Darnell Nurse where he makes $3 million more than the worth he provides. Solid player when he's dialed in.

 

[FSL KINGS]

He probably makes a little too much, but this isn't like Darnell Nurse where he makes $3 million more than the worth he provides. Solid player when he's dialed in.

Thinking Nurse is a 6 million dollar player.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

According to this board Edmundson sucks tho

He does. Clarke is objectively much better away from Edmundson.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/hiller-kings-cautious-with-clarke-despite-impressive-start

Digging deeper, Clarke has the second most defensive zone giveaways on the team with 8 (Spence, 9). At 5-on-5, Clarke has the highest xGA (expected goals against) on the team with 8.42 and the highest HDCA (high danger chances against) with 34. He and his defensive partner, Joel Edmundson, have surrendered 6 HDGA (high danger goals against), both second to Quinton Byfield (8).

All those stats certainly have room for improvement, but it would be unfair to not consider that Edmundson, his usual partner at 5-on-5, has struggled in the LA zone. In the 55:52 TOI where Clarke has been away from Edmundson he has put up the following metrics at even strength:

• 70.29 CF% (shot attempts)
• 69.74 SF% (shots on goal)
• 80.00 GF% (goals)
• 65.08 SCF% (scoring chances)
• 60.00% HDCF% (high danger chances)

Simply put, Clarke has been extremely good at both ends of the ice when he’s not paired with Edmundson.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I mean i thought it was pretty well established that

Spence:Englund::Clarke:Edmundson

I like Edmundson as a human being but I can't take anyone that defends him as a player at this stage seriously. He f***ing sucks. Full stop. Maybe he can improve--it's a new team, new city, new system and more, but just like the "Spence/Englund pairing" was one of the best 3rd pairings in the NHL because Spence is a good #3 and Englund is a #9, "Clarke/Edmundson pairing" is good because Clarke is a #2-#3 and Edmundson is a #8.

 

[Random Comment]

Anyone have a good mid-season eval of Brandt? What’s the future looking like for him, or any comparables out there.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Anyone have a good mid-season eval of Brandt? What’s the future looking like for him, or any comparables out there.

I'm sure others can provide additional insight but I'd say Clarke has been very very good this season and it's pretty clear he's a special player with a special future.

He got off to an amazing start this season offensively. Through his first 15 games or so he was producing at a REALLY high level (almost at point/game pace if I remember correctly).

His offensive production has since slowed down quite a bit but personally, I'm not too concerned. He has great vision, playmaking ability, and puck skills - The points will come. It also probably doesn't help that the Kings powerplay has been absolutely abysmal the last couple months.

He's clearly a gifted player offensively, but I'd actually say I've been most impressed (or maybe pleasantly surprised is a better descriptor) by his defense this year. For a 21 year old offensive defenseman, he's actually been surprisingly very solid defensively this season. He's handled some tough matchups surprisingly well and has been a lot more steady / poised than I expected. Also hasn't shied away from the physical aspect of the game and has shown the ability to get under the skin of opposing players which is a nice added bonus.

In terms of the future, things are looking pretty bright for Clarke. Obviously things can change, but he looks like a player who will be able to consistently put up 40-50+ point seasons with relative ease. The Kings aren't a super high powered team offensively, but if that starts to change over the next couple years - I think we could legitimately see some 70-80+ point seasons from Clarke.. he's that good offensively. In his prime, he'll have the potential to be a true #1D who can dominate games and carry his team offensively at moments... Worst case scenario, he ends up being a very good top 4 d man who puts up good point totals.

Comparables are tough especially because Clarke feels pretty unique as a player. One way I sometimes like to think of Clarke is kind of like Mitch Marner but as a defenseman - Amazing puck skills and incredible ability to see the ice creatively to set up teammates with scoring chances. Good defensively but elite offensively. Idk why but that's always kind of made the most sense to me.

 

[Statto]

I'm sure others can provide additional insight but I'd say Clarke has been very very good this season and it's pretty clear he's a special player with a special future.

He got off to an amazing start this season offensively. Through his first 15 games or so he was producing at a REALLY high level (almost at point/game pace if I remember correctly).

His offensive production has since slowed down quite a bit but personally, I'm not too concerned. He has great vision, playmaking ability, and puck skills - The points will come. It also probably doesn't help that the Kings powerplay has been absolutely abysmal the last couple months.

He's clearly a gifted player offensively, but I'd actually say I've been most impressed (or maybe pleasantly surprised is a better descriptor) by his defense this year. For a 21 year old offensive defenseman, he's actually been surprisingly very solid defensively this season. He's handled some tough matchups surprisingly well and has been a lot more steady / poised than I expected. Also hasn't shied away from the physical aspect of the game and has shown the ability to get under the skin of opposing players which is a nice added bonus.

In terms of the future, things are looking pretty bright for Clarke. Obviously things can change, but he looks like a player who will be able to consistently put up 40-50+ point seasons with relative ease. The Kings aren't a super high powered team offensively, but if that starts to change over the next couple years - I think we could legitimately see some 70-80+ point seasons from Clarke.. he's that good offensively. In his prime, he'll have the potential to be a true #1D who can dominate games and carry his team offensively at moments... Worst case scenario, he ends up being a very good top 4 d man who puts up good point totals.

Comparables are tough especially because Clarke feels pretty unique as a player. One way I sometimes like to think of Clarke is kind of like Mitch Marner but as a defenseman - Amazing puck skills and incredible ability to see the ice creatively to set up teammates with scoring chances. Good defensively but elite offensively. Idk why but that's always kind of made the most sense to me.

Fair evaluation. I think he’s hit a bit of a wall with the number of games also but like you I’m not concerned. His minutes were trending up and perhaps that impacted him slightly. The anaemic offence hasn’t helped.

He’s definitely been a bright spot and his D has been decent. Like you I thought it’d take him longer to adjust but his game IQ is extremely good.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

For comparables i've always said John Klingberg, even down to the hinkey stride

 

[Sol]

He’s alright. Shows really good offensive instincts every now and then. Lacks a good shot. Has good hands. Weird stride and lackluster speed. Decent top 4 dman who will excel at PP Qb in the future most likely. Don’t see anything else in his game to say he will be more than that. I do think his production will improve due to his high level offensive instincts. And he’s actually pretty good at defense. For an OFD he’s definitely not like Karlsson who had no defensive instinct. Will become a good TWD but I do think that if the Kings really care about his ceiling then they’d let him just be an OFD. The Kings have shown that they aren’t about playing to the strengths of players unfortunately which is why Clarkes production dipped. Rather than grow his offensive game where he excels, they are making him play safe for defense.

I do think if his skating was a lot better that he’d be a force in the NHL.

 

[bland]

Yeah, the biggest wrinkle in his game is poor skating in very specific situations, especially getting turned in transition. The bright side is that he is clever, and experience will give him a better understanding of initial positioning and reaction timing.

He is an outstanding talent, maybe/maybe not "star" level, but he will be a very productive player for a long time.

 

[BigKing]

He’s alright. Shows really good offensive instincts every now and then. Lacks a good shot. Has good hands. Weird stride and lackluster speed. Decent top 4 dman who will excel at PP Qb in the future most likely. Don’t see anything else in his game to say he will be more than that. I do think his production will improve due to his high level offensive instincts. And he’s actually pretty good at defense. For an OFD he’s definitely not like Karlsson who had no defensive instinct. Will become a good TWD but I do think that if the Kings really care about his ceiling then they’d let him just be an OFD. The Kings have shown that they aren’t about playing to the strengths of players unfortunately which is why Clarkes production dipped. Rather than grow his offensive game where he excels, they are making him play safe for defense.

I do think if his skating was a lot better that he’d be a force in the NHL.

I like what Edmondson brings to this team since they had nothing like him, but he isn't exactly the partner that is going to help Clarke's offensive game grow.

I really hope they pair him with Gavrikov when Doughty is back and put Spence with Edmundson while also going back to 12 forwards. Not that Gavrikov is an offensive force, but I feel like Edmundson is treated like the guy in basketball that is allowed to stand at the three point line and the other team hopes he shoots it. I know he wired a couple this year but it seems like defenses set up to force the pass over to him as opposed to anyone else. Gavrikov is craftier offensively.

 

[Schmooley]

Anyone else think he looks gassed towards the end of games? When they are down late and need a goal and finally give him some leash to roam he seems tired. Id say its cause of the schedule in his first real season but it was happening earlier in the year also. Hell put in the work in the offseason Im sure of it.