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Player Profile – February 9, 2003 Nationality – Canada Draft Eligibility – 2021 Height –6’1 Weight –181 lbs Position – Defense Handedness – Right Fantasy Summary A dynamic offensive defender who could have the highest ceiling of any player in the 2021 draft class. He has good size but needs to fill out his frame and his skating is elite. A potential number one defenseman in the future. Observations February 2021 – Clarke went overseas to the Slovakian men’s league to play with HC Nove Zamky just before the New Year. The adjustment to playing overseas and against men hasn’t been without it’s bumps in the road but Clarke has shown some development as well as the flashes of skill that had scouts drooling in the second half of last season. While his straight-line skating needs a bit of work mechanically, the overall mobility is very good. He is able to maneuver the ice and open passing lanes, manipulating forecheckers to give himself room to break the puck out with a pass or his feet. He needs to work on his defensive game as he can sometimes seem a bit overwhelmed, trying the desperation play just to hold his head above water at times. Offensively, the flashes of greatness remain. His ability to read and process the play, understanding when and where to jump into the play, is a big part of Clarke’s game. He has excellent offensive tools, none more valuable than his exceptional eye for the open man. The temporarily former Barrie Colts defender can spot a man a mile away and find their tape with a pass. His shimmy and shake in the offensive zone is also a trait that he shares with few forwards, let alone defenseman. Clarke remains one of the higher upside players in the draft class but unless he really starts to show some refinement, particularly defensively, Clarke may not be as favored to go in the top spot. Tony Ferrari August 2020 – Silky smooth on his feet and with the puck, Brandt Clarke might have the highest upside of any player in the 2021 draft class. He was scoring at almost a point-per-game in the last 22 games of the year after the Barrie Colts made a coaching change. Clarke was seemingly freed from the chains that were holding him back, he became the player that so many thought he was. He was a game-breaker with the puck on his stick and displayed a control of the game that players his age generally don’t have. Ascending to the top powerplay and playing bigger minutes at even strength allowed Clarke to make an impact on the game seemingly nightly. His skating is elite with mobility in all directions, Clarke showed the ability to defend with good positioning and a good stick. He lacked physicality at times but at 6’1″ and 185lbs, he has plenty of growth ahead of him and should fill out his frame a bit next season. He is a transitional wizard at times when given the chance to carry the puck through the neutral zone, he has the hands and skill to evade defenders and gain zone entries with control. His offensive game is what makes him truly special. He utilizes his skating to drive the play and provide a dynamic presence from the backend. His vision is impressive and he finds passing and shooting lanes with regularity. He acts as a fourth forward at times, pushing below the offensive faceoff dots. The young attacking blueliner will need to mature and pick his spots a bit better because while he can recover at the OHL level, he may get burned as he advances in his hockey career. He should be a top-three pick in next year’s draft with a legitimate shot at going first overall, despite defenders rarely garnering that sort of attention. Tony Ferrari
