New Jersey Devils: Five Standouts From Prospects Challenge

Graeme Clarke

Every skill line needs a guy who can play a solid two-way game and get to the dirty areas to score goals and win puck battles. Graeme Clarke did a really nice job of being that player for the New Jersey Devils in this tournament. He played on the top line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Boqvist for most of the tournament and he was awesome.

He showed that he has great puck handling skills and a really nice release. He can pump shots on the net which is exactly what you need from a guy who is on a line with two skilled playmakers. He would fit in the NHL playing with these two or on a line with guys like Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier if he develops into an NHL body of course. There is a big crowd at the forward position, but Graeme Clarke definitely got noticed during the prospects challenge.

Clarke was a third-round pick by the Devils in the 2019 NHL Draft, so he has lots of time to develop over the next few years. He is going to play for the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League this upcoming season. His puck handling, lightning-quick release, and nose for the net are the skills he is going to be looking to improve on but in Buffalo, he showed that he can be something someday.