Prospect Info: #80 Graeme Clarke RW

[Lou is God]

Any one of our highly-touted prospects would be the perfect winger for Jack.

Being better than Andreas isn't exactly a high bar to clear.

But I am excited for him and that we have him in our Organization.

Not really, more and more I'm thinking a prospect like Holtz might not be the winger for Jack, we need a winger that thinks like Jack and can shoot the puck, Clarke and Foote (and Mercer for that matter) might fit that mode, shooters like Holtz might not which makes sense when you think about it as Holtz's game does remind me of Palms, who hasn't been a natural fit with Jack.

When we think of a winger who would compliment Jack best we naturally think of shooters like Holtz and Palms, but truth might be is they need to less off a shooter and more of a playmaker with a nice shot, which fits Clarke who while known as a goal scorer, you hear many talk about his hockey IQ and sense.

When I look at Clarke I am reminded a bit of Henrique.

 

[Emperoreddy]

If he makes it we could be overloaded at wing with Holtz, Mercer, Foote, and Thompson almost ready to join Bratt.

Wouldn't count out Boqvist yet.

 

[Lou is God]

Wouldn't count out Boqvist yet.

Neither would I, I thought he held his own in the few games he played at the start of the year, I was impressed how defensively responsible he was.

 

[Lou is God]

It's players like Clarke and Boqvist why Pronman loves our prospect pool, we have no many prospects that while might not be blue chippers, they can easily become solid NHL players, think Henrique and Coleman as the kind of prospects I'm talking about.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

He might be the perfect winger for Jack.

If I recall correctly, he was Jack’s wing at one point before junior/NDT. It’d be sweet if they found magic in NHL as well.

 

[Lou is God]

If I recall correctly, he was Jack’s wing at one point before junior/NDT. It’d be sweet if they found magic in NHL as well.

Nice, I never knew that but you're right:

Graeme Clarke made a name for himself playing alongside Jack Hughes in 2016-17, racking up 82 goals in 81 games before being selected sixth overall by the Ottawa 67’s in the 2017 OHL Draft. With Ottawa laden with veteran OHL players, Clarke began his rookie OHL season in a bottom-six role.

https://thehockeywriters.com/graeme-clarke-2019-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Nice, I never knew that but you're right:

Graeme Clarke made a name for himself playing alongside Jack Hughes in 2016-17, racking up 82 goals in 81 games before being selected sixth overall by the Ottawa 67’s in the 2017 OHL Draft. With Ottawa laden with veteran OHL players, Clarke began his rookie OHL season in a bottom-six role.

https://thehockeywriters.com/graeme-clarke-2019-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/

Holy crap! Didn’t know it was that many goals. You’re on to something here.

 

[Lou is God]

Holy crap! Didn’t know it was that many goals. You’re on to something here.

I had no clue either but I'm not surprised, Clarke is a legit talent, scouts and analysts always speak highly of his all around game, but its kinda like with Holtz where reputation as a goal scorer is what is pushed most.

 

[glenwo2]

Nice, I never knew that but you're right:

Graeme Clarke made a name for himself playing alongside Jack Hughes in 2016-17, racking up 82 goals in 81 games before being selected sixth overall by the Ottawa 67’s in the 2017 OHL Draft. With Ottawa laden with veteran OHL players, Clarke began his rookie OHL season in a bottom-six role.

https://thehockeywriters.com/graeme-clarke-2019-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/

 

[Ripshot 43]

We had Jack Hughes’ Cole Caufield all this time?

 

[Call Me Al]

we would have been talking him up a lot more if he wasn’t injured last year but he is a legit scoring prospect. glad he’s putting up goals in the ahl as a 19 year old after barely playing hockey over the past year and a half

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

He is certainly getting more comfortable with the time and space at the AHL level. It shows to his hockey sense. I would still like to see him getting faster and stronger. He is reminding me of Tyler Toffoli a little bit. Patience patience patience.

 

[Nubmer6]

If he makes it we could be overloaded at wing with Holtz, Mercer, Foote, and Thompson almost ready to join Bratt.

You almost make it sound like this is a problem?

 

[Blackjack]

You almost make it sound like this is a problem?

not sure whether to blame Shero or Fitz.

 

[StevenToddIves]

He might be the perfect winger for Jack.

Graeme Clarke is a terrific finisher who shows great creativity with the puck. I think he has upside as a second line finisher at the NHL level, but he's still a ways off that potential. His skating is average to me, so he's really going to have to round his his game to hit his ceiling. This is certainly within the realm of possibility, as I believe we're dealing with a highly intelligent and competitive kid. But it's my conviction that Graeme needs at least a full season at the AHL level.

 

[Guttersniped]

You almost make it sound like this is a problem?

How can we fit them all AND resign Gusev to a long term deal?

 

[My3Sons]

How can we fit them all AND resign Gusev to a long term deal?

You trade away Nico since he’s injury prone.

 

[glenwo2]

You trade away Nico since he’s injury prone.

And bring back Ben LoveJoy out of retirement.

 

[thethinglonger]

Another game, another goal. Kid's looking really good

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[Emperoreddy]

Another game, another goal. Kid's looking really good

Hard not to he happy with the progress of a bunch of our young wingers.

 

[forceten]

So, on the heels of his Utica season, is Clarke a contender for the NHL roster?

 

[Clam Jensen]

So, on the heels of his Utica season, is Clarke a contender for the NHL roster?

I sure hope so, he’ll definitely fight for a spot in camp next year. His shot will play.

 

[Nubmer6]

So, on the heels of his Utica season, is Clarke a contender for the NHL roster?

I've always liked him and had high hopes. That being said, I think he's waiver exempt for 1 more year so I don't expect him as a regular, but I think he'll be one of the first injury call-ups.

 

[forceten]

Clarke's season really has me breathing a sigh of relief - I worried about our forward depth in the pipeline. But Clarke's emergence and Gritsyuk continuing his play helps quite a bit. Stillman still looks like a potential solid 4th liner too. Would have liked to see Thompson emerge too, but...