PuckSleuth
92Cap hit
$7.4M
7.1% of $104M cap
Term
5 yrs
Through 2030-31, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
−$819K
vs. $6.581M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
18:57
PP 4:51 · PK 0:00
xGF%
79.6
5v5, +25.5 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.48
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 2 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 @ COL · L 8-4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 18:57 | 4:51 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.48 |
| Apr 26 vs COL · L 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18:22 | 3:29 | 0:00 | — | 71 | 2 | 0 | -2 | -0.13 |
| Apr 23 vs COL · L 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 19:46 | 3:55 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -0.15 |
| Apr 21 @ COL · OTL 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 21:25 | 3:55 | 0:02 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.31 |
| Apr 19 @ COL · L 2-1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19:30 | 3:12 | 0:24 | — | 75 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.15 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,332 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
81st percentile
86th percentile
71st percentile
88th percentile
82nd percentile
92nd percentile
89th percentile
94th percentile
51st percentile
88th percentile
38th percentile
67th percentile
74th percentile
97th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleOffensive playmaking defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Clarke is an elite passer who drives play creation from the blue line with exceptional shooting volume and chance generation. He leans heavily on skill and positioning rather than physical play or defensive intensity, succeeding when deployed in up-tempo offensive roles.
- Shooting volume
- 90
- Playmaking
- 97
- Zone entries(est.)
- 62
- Forechecking
- 37
- Physicality
- 60
- Defensive impact
- 53
- Puck management
- 37
- Speed
- 40
Where he shoots from
Slot 15% · Mid-range 32% · Perimeter 53%(224 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Playmaking at the 97th percentile creates chances through smart passing and vision
- Shooting volume at the 90th percentile shows aggressive offensive involvement from the point
- Expected goals share of 54.1% indicates he tilts play in his team's offensive direction
Watch-outs
- Forechecking at the 37th percentile suggests he doesn't generate many turnovers in opposing zones
- Speed at the 40th percentile may limit his ability to recover defensively or close gaps quickly
- Puck management at the 37th percentile means occasional turnovers despite his playmaking strengths
Similar style: Mattias Ekholm (EDM), Jacob Trouba (SJS)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 82 GP · goals above average
Season total +6.9 goals, or +0.08 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.5
- Even strength defense
- +1.3
- Power play
- -0.1
- Finishing
- -0.3
- Playmaking
- +6.6
- Penalties
- -1.1
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | LAK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18:57 | — | +0.48 |
| 2025-26 | LAK | 82 | 8 | 32 | 40 | +11 | 159 | 19:48 | — | +0.08 |
| 2024-25 | LAK | 78 | 5 | 28 | 33 | +13 | 131 | 16:17 | — | +0.03 |
| 2023-24 | LAK | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -6 | 31 | 13:39 | — | +0.07 |
| 2022-23 | LAK | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 11 | 13:39 | — | -0.03 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- How awesome was it watching Nathan MacKinnon DROP THE GLOVES & work Brandt Clarke in the Avs opener?
Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan · Oct 1
- Nathan MacKinnon set the tone for the entire Avalanche season by beating the snot out of Brandt Clarke
Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan · Oct 1
- [WATCH] Nathan MacKinnon lays a Muay Thai-inspired beating on Brandt Clarke
Sportskeeda · Oct 1
- Brandt Clarke Fantasy Outlook & Stats
FantasySP · Oct 1
- Nathan MacKinnon absolutely works over Brandt Clarke in his first fight in 4 years
Yahoo Sports · Oct 1
- Nathan MacKinnon fights Brandt Clarke in season opener
Yardbarker · Oct 1
- ‘He didn’t say a great word to me’: Nathan MacKinnon challenges, then drops Brandt Clarke in rare fight after hit on Cale Makar
RMNB · Oct 1
- MacKinnon drops mitts with Clarke for first fight in four years
Sportsnet.ca · Oct 1
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.00 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 19.9 mph
- 60th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- 62.4 mph
- 9th pct
- Distance
- 2.7 mi
- OZ time
- 49.3%
- 96th pct
- DZ time
- 31.8%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 23, defensemen typically produce 100% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 27, when the typical level is 97%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
5 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | LAK | $7.4M | 7.1% |
| 2027-28 | LAK | $7.4M | 6.5% |
| 2028-29 | LAK | $7.4M | — |
| 2029-30 | LAK | $7.4M | — |
| 2030-31 | LAK | $7.4M | — |
UFA after 2030-31. $37M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).