Graeme Clarke

Graeme Clarke (born April 24, 2001) is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round, 80th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Amateur Clarke was selected sixth overall by the Ottawa 67's in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s 2017 Priority Selection draft. He made his OHL debut in the following 2017–18 season. On January 21, 2018, he scored a Michigan goal against the Peterborough Petes, a move he had done successfully multiple times prior to his OHL career. He finished the year with 14 goals and 11 assists for 25 points in 63 games. The 67's qualified for the playoffs and faced the Hamilton Bulldogs in the opening round. The Bulldogs eliminated the 67's in five games. Clarke went scoreless in the series. Returning to the 67's for the 2018–19 season, Clarke scored his second Michigan goal at the OHL level on March 8, 2019. His regular season production increased from the previous year's, netting 23 goals and 34 points in 55 games. In the playoffs he added seven goals and 14 points in 18 playoff games.

Professional Clarke was selected by the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the third round, 80th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft. On February 8, 2021, after six games in Slovakia over which he totaled just one assist, he signed a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Binghamton Devils, then-affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. He would sign a three-year, entry-level contract with New Jersey less than a month later, on March 6. In 31 AHL games with Binghamton, Clarke scored eight goals and 18 points. The 2022–23 season saw Clarke more than double his previous year's point production, totaling 25 goals and 58 points in 68 games, leading the team in all offensive categories. He was named AHL player of the week for the week ending on December 25, 2022, during which he scored four goals and six points in two games. In the playoffs, Clarke put up six points in as many games, as the Comets were once again eliminated in the second round, this time by the Toronto Marlies.

He began the 2023–24 season with Utica, but was recalled by New Jersey on January 3, 2024. Clarke made his NHL debut on January 6, in a 6–4 loss against the Vancouver Canucks. He was returned to the AHL on January 7. He and Brandt were both selected for the 2024 AHL All-Star Game, the second pair of brothers to attend the game together after Peter and Chris Ferraro in 1997 and 2003. He was recalled again in April and made two more appearances going scoreless, before being returned to the AHL. He finished the AHL season with 25 goals and 49 points in 67 games, including eight game-winning goals to lead the Comets in goals and game-winners, and rank second in points.

On June 21, 2024, Clarke was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Adam Beckman. He began the 2024–25 season injured after blocking a shot with his lower body in training camp. He was activated on October 29 and placed on waivers in order to be assigned to Minnesota's AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. After going unclaimed, he spent the rest of the season in Iowa, tallying 16 goals and 37 points in 64 games. On October 1, Clarke was placed on waivers. After going unclaimed, he was assigned to Washington's AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. He put up 15 goals and 24 points in 50 games with Hershey. In 15 games with Belleville, he tallied five goals and 19 points. The team was eliminated in the tournament's quarterfinals by HC Sparta Praha on December 29.

Personal life Clarke was born in Waconia, Minnesota to Canadian parents who were each earning their Masters' degrees at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He grew up in Ottawa and has two ice hockey-playing younger siblings, both defencemen. while his sister Mackenzie plays for St. Lawrence University.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2017–18 Ottawa 67's OHL 63 14 11 25 26 5 0 0 0 0 2018–19 Ottawa 67's OHL 55 23 11 34 34 18 7 7 14 10 2019–20 Ottawa 67's OHL 16 9 8 17 6 — — — — — 2020–21 HC Nové Zámky Slovak 6 0 1 1 6 — — — — — 2020–21 Binghamton Devils AHL 31 8 10 18 12 — — — — — 2021–22 Utica Comets AHL 52 10 14 24 30 3 1 0 1 0 2022–23 Utica Comets AHL 68 25 33 58 18 6 2 4 6 4 2023–24 Utica Comets AHL 67 25 24 49 30 — — — — — 2023–24 New Jersey Devils NHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2024–25 Iowa Wild AHL 64 16 21 37 36 — — — — — 2025–26 Hershey Bears AHL 50 15 9 24 24 — — — — — 2025–26 Belleville Senators AHL 15 5 14 19 18 — — — — —NHL totals 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2018 Canada HG18 5 2 1 3 0Junior totals 5 2 1 3 0

Awards and honours Award Year RefAHL AHL All-Star Game 2024