unicornpig
Registered User
- Dec 8, 2017
- 3,728
- 5,455
couldn't make world junior team but can make the nhl lol
D Brandt Clarke - Ontario Reign, AHL (2021, 8th, LAK)
- Thread starter MMC
- Start date
Kingpin794
Smart A** In A Jersey
Isn't Canada notorious for cutting one or two star players in favor of "role" players every year?
- Apr 27, 2005
- 34,777
- 32,626
Both Canada, and to a lesser extent USA, do this sort of stupid **** every year. They are lucky they have so much depth for the WJCs. Other teams would get dominated leaving such talent off their rosters for "reasons".
The Kings will dress Clarke once every 3 weeks to stretch his 9-game trial out until April and allow him to play in all of their playoff games without burning a year off of his ELC. Blake is a genius.
If Team Canada would take Clarke for WJC then it would make it even easier, but ofc TC doesn't want Clarke
bsu
"I have no idea what I am doing" -Pat VerBleak
- Sep 27, 2017
- 28,539
- 29,293
Raccoon Jesus
Draft em but don't play em
If Team Canada would take Clarke for WJC then it would make it even easier, but ofc TC doesn't want Clarke
Blake is trying to make sure he's available...and then let them know he can't go
Clarke is expected to make his NHL debut tonight against Seattle. He'll be on the 3rd pairing with Edler and likely on the 2nd powerplay unit.
Clarke looked like he belonged in the NHL. Ironically, it's the Kings that didn't.
JonathnTaylorTavares
Registered User
- Feb 4, 2019
- 1,118
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Little McCauley Culkin Dennis the Menace mouse face can play
Raccoon Jesus
Draft em but don't play em
Looked a little scared to start, got much much better as the game went along, was the guy we saw in the preseason by the end.
Already our 2nd best dman next to Doughty (Edit: arguably 3rd depending on how you feel about Anderson) but that's clearly not saying much since everyone else has turned into goo.
Already our 2nd best dman next to Doughty (Edit: arguably 3rd depending on how you feel about Anderson) but that's clearly not saying much since everyone else has turned into goo.
I imagine that he was just being cautious and didn't want to pull a Durzi early in his first game. The lack of flow in the 1st period and his shifts being interrupted couldn't have helped, while having to play from behind in the 2nd and 3rd periods probably did help bring his offensive game out.
I think that he's a lot better than Anderson (who's nothing special, IMO, unlike Clarke) and the 2nd best after Doughty. It'll be a huge shame if they send him down, and I'm starting to wonder if the team continuing to struggle will add just one more reason for the brass to do it.
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Raccoon Jesus
Draft em but don't play em
If they ever even consider sending him down at this point, it will be criminal.
He's sheltered behind Doughty in the perfect spot but the dude is a phenom, they're going to just HAVE to give him Durzi's PP2 spot soon, there's nothing more he can do in his limited minutes.
Most importantly, impeccable flow.
He's sheltered behind Doughty in the perfect spot but the dude is a phenom, they're going to just HAVE to give him Durzi's PP2 spot soon, there's nothing more he can do in his limited minutes.
Most importantly, impeccable flow.
He's been a lot less noticeable and flashy since the season started, very different than how he looked in preseason. I chalk it up to reduced minutes and him trying not to do too much and hurt the team. He seems to really want to stay up and is trying to make it happen by playing safe, dependable hockey. It's probably not a bad strategy because LA really needs that. Most of the other defensemen are making egregious mistakes nearly every night and, so far, Clarke hasn't made one that I've noticed, despite being the rookie of the bunch. He's just been solid, as those stats suggest, and I assume that the coaching staff agrees because they've been burning through his first 9 games. Since being put in for game #2, he's played 3 straight. In my observation, junior-eligible kids tend to have their 9-game trials stretched out when they need to adjust to the pace of the NHL and when teams want them to get the most experience around pro athletes before they're sent back. Clarke has had no issues adjusting and it's starting to feel like the Kings want him in the lineup for what he contributes, not just for learning and evaluation. That bodes well for him staying up, but you never know.
If it were up to me, I'd keep him up and loan Durzi to the KHL, preferably a team in Siberia, where I'm sure that he'd be a star "defense"man.
If it were up to me, I'd keep him up and loan Durzi to the KHL, preferably a team in Siberia, where I'm sure that he'd be a star "defense"man.
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It was bizarre that Clarke wasn't even invited to Team Canada Junior tryouts.
There must be something personal at work. Maybe they found Clarke to be too respectful towards women?
There must be something personal at work. Maybe they found Clarke to be too respectful towards women?
bobbythebrain
Registered User
- Jul 30, 2016
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Yup. Meanwhile Durzi continues to tally points cuz of icetime despite killing his team in goals against.
They almost lost again yesterday cuz he gifted another grade A chance to Larkin
Lavar Ball
Neva Lost
Raccoon Jesus
Draft em but don't play em
First NHL point--while playing on the LEFT side with our worst dman coming back from a year-long layoff and with no PP time but getting PK time. You can't write this stuff worse, it's incredible how this organization sandbags themselves.
Despite TM's best efforts to sabotage him, he's amazing.
If there is a way to sabotage his career Todd McDummy will find it.
Raccoon Jesus
Draft em but don't play em
Raccoon Jesus
Draft em but don't play em
Not a real surprise and take the source with a grain of salt BUT
I've only seen this kid play a few times but I really like how smart he is. I'll take elite hockey IQ over just about any other metric.
That article was apparently written three days ago, but wasn't tweeted until today. Odd. It'd be nice to get some official acknowledgement, but I can understand the organization not wanting to publicly commit themselves. I'll be glad once his 10th game comes because I hold my breath every time that I see this thread bumped.
Not sure what the f*** Los Angeles is doing with this poor kid. Is there a worse spot for a prospect to land? Sheesh
Chazz Reinhold
Registered User
Clarke is not in the AHL nor has he been for a week now, yet he continues not to play. At no point has he "not play[ed] well." The Kings with their phenomenal track record with developing prospects think they're galaxy-braining this by sitting this kid who is clearly too good for junior and is already an NHL-quality defenseman.
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