Graeme Clarke
Graeme Clarke went from an exciting prospect to a complicated one this season. He was always a scorer, and the biggest problem with Clarke since his draft year was staying healthy. He's been mostly healthy this season, but it just hasn't clicked. Clarke is now playing on the second line at right wing behind Brian Halonen.
Clarke isn't having a bad season by any means. He has 20 goals and 20 assists in 54 games. He's doing this without a true center on the team. Seriously, there are no centers on Utica. Right now, down the middle, they have Kyle Criscuolo on the first line (which, admittedly, I didn't know was on the team until now). Clarke is currently playing with Nolan Stevens, who just a month ago had his contract terminated by Grand Rapids (in the Detroit farm). Comets captain Ryan Schmelzer is also a center, but Kevin Dineen usually plays him on the third or fourth line.
Clarke is another player that is getting older, and the Devils need to see what they have in him. Can he be a scorer on the next level? Is he someone who can translate to the NHL? Will he be able to stay healthy if the Devils rely on him?
He's another player that is in the final year of his entry-level contract. We don't think he'll get much of a raise, but the Devils just have to decide what kind of contract he's getting. An NHL shot would give Tom Fitzgerald and the rest of the front office more clarity.