Couldn’t have said it better myself!
LWoS: “Clarke’s game is based on his outstanding skating ability. This allows him to get forward in the offensive zone as well as join the rush, and still get back defensively. He has an outstanding first step and great acceleration. His ability to change speeds allows him to avoid forecheckers and get past defenders. His top-end speed is also very good. Clarke’s edgework and agility are elite. He can turn on a dime, and can also walk the line, opening up passing and shooting lanes in the offensive zone.”
Smaht Scouting: “Clarke’s transitional game and puck movement is clutch. First, you need to take note of how strong a skater he is. Clarke’s extension and placement is exactly where you want it to be. He does not take long extensions and his skates are not too wide apart. At first glance, Clarke’s speed is deceptive. He does not appear to be a fast skater especially in transition, but that is not the case. Clarke has good speed, but sometimes you forget how speedy he is because he will zig-zag in the neutral zone.”
The Draft Analyst: “Clarke has no problems with mobility whatsoever but he was one of the most awkward upright stances you’ll find. He can glide all over the ice and use quick feet to track the puck in any direction, yet his wide, bow-legged base can make him look clumsy. Aesthetics aside, Clarke is an end-to-end rusher and accelerates past zone pressure with ease, therefore rendering any debate over whether or not his base or short stride is a detriment to his overall quickness as irrelevant.”
The Hockey Writers: “What separates Clarke from a bunch of other players in this draft is his
smooth skating ability. Blessed with a powerful stride, Clarke is able to effectively use crossovers to get to top speed quickly. He loves to jump into the rush and has a great motor to be able to get back as well. He is able to close gaps with his skating ability and can really open up space for his teammates when given the time to do so.”
And on, and on. Can we stop the bullshit about his skating ability now, please?