Kings ink Brandt Clarke to $37 million contract extension

While the Los Angeles Kings were eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Colorado Avalanche, they’re hoping that they’ll be able to not only return to the postseason next season with a full year of Artemi Panarin but also advance to the second round for what would be the first time since their most recent Stanley Cup win of 2014.

And now, the Kings are locking up one of the most important members of their blue line, signing defenseman Brandt Clarke to a five-year, $37 million extension, which carries a $7.4 million salary cap hit.

Born in 2003 in Ottawa, Ontario, Clarke was taken in the first round (fourth overall) by the Barrie Colts in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. He would lead all rookie OHL defensemen in scoring, and later earned OHL First All-Rookie Team honors. Clarke then continued playing overseas on loan to HC Nové Zámky of the Tipsport Liga after the OHL season was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

He was then taken in the first round (eighth overall pick) by the Kings in the 2021 NHL Draft. But he’d continue his development with the Colts, scoring 11 goals and 48 assists in 55 games during the 2021-22 season. He then split his time the following season between the Colts and the American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign, while also getting nine NHL games under his belt, in which he registered a pair of assists.

His first full NHL season came in 2024-25, as he scored five goals and 28 assists in 78 games played. So far in 185 career NHL games, he’s scored 15 goals with 66 assists.

The post Kings ink Brandt Clarke to $37 million contract extension appeared first on ClutchPoints.