Graeme Clarke Bio
Graeme Clarke (born April 24, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey player who plays as a winger. He is listed at 183 cm and 79 kg and was selected 80th overall in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. Clarke began his professional career in 2020 and is a prospect associated with NHL clubs while playing primarily in the American Hockey League.
Early Life and Background
Graeme Clarke was born in Waconia, Minnesota on April 24, 2001. His parents were in Minnesota for graduate study around the time of his birth, and Clarke moved during childhood to the Ottawa area where he developed in minor hockey programs. He grew up in a hockey family with younger siblings who also pursued the sport.
Clarke learned advanced puck skills as a youth and gained attention for his ability to execute high-difficulty moves, including the lacrosse-style “Michigan” goal he scored prior to and during his junior career. Those early demonstrations of creativity and finishing ability helped him rise through Ontario Hockey League scouting ranks and earn selection in the OHL Priority Selection.
Path to Hockey
Clarke was selected sixth overall by the Ottawa 67’s in the 2017 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection and made his OHL debut in the 2017–18 season. He combined goal-scoring instincts with playmaking during his junior years, attracting attention from NHL scouts ahead of the 2019 draft. His progression in the OHL, including postseason work in deep playoff runs, provided the ladder into the professional ranks.
In junior play Clarke produced notable goal totals and recorded highlight-reel moments that underscored his finishing ability. Despite a shoulder injury that limited his 2019–20 season, Clarke had already established himself as a forward with goal-scoring upside and a track record of stepping up during playoff competition.
Graeme Clarke Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Clarke debuted in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s in 2017–18, finishing that season with 14 goals and 11 assists for 25 points in 63 regular-season games. He followed with a stronger second season in 2018–19, producing 23 goals and 34 points in 55 games and adding seven goals and 14 points in 18 playoff contests as the 67’s advanced to the OHL final. Clarke missed much of 2019–20 with a shoulder injury but still managed nine goals and 17 points in 16 games before the season was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
His junior performance earned him selection by the New Jersey Devils at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, 80th overall. Clarke’s junior resume combined scoring, creativity, and experience in high-pressure playoff games, creating the foundation for his transition to professional hockey following the pandemic interruption.
Professional Breakthrough (2020–2023)
With the 2020–21 OHL season impacted by the pandemic, Clarke began that period abroad with HC Nové Zámky of the Slovak Extraliga alongside his brother. He returned to North America and signed an AHL contract with the Binghamton Devils on February 8, 2021, and then a three-year entry-level NHL contract with New Jersey on March 6, 2021. In 31 AHL games with Binghamton he posted eight goals and 18 points while adjusting to the pro game.
Assigned to the Utica Comets for the 2021–22 season, Clarke produced 10 goals and 24 points in 52 regular-season games and gained postseason experience. The 2022–23 season marked a clear jump: he scored 25 goals and totaled 58 points in 68 games to lead his AHL club in offense and earn league recognition during the campaign.
Utica Comets Era (2021–2024)
Clarke’s tenure with Utica included milestones that signaled his emergence as a reliable scorer at the AHL level. He was named AHL Player of the Week for the period ending December 25, 2022, after a two-game stretch that produced four goals and six points. In playoffs that season he added six points in six games as Utica advanced before elimination in the second round.
In the 2023–24 season Clarke continued to lead the Comets offensively, finishing with 25 goals and 49 points in 67 games and delivering eight game-winning goals to lead the club in that category. He also made his NHL debut in January 2024 when recalled by New Jersey, appearing in his first NHL game before returning to AHL duty.
Washington Capitals / Hershey Bears Era (2025–Present)
Following a trade and subsequent transactions in 2024 and 2025, Clarke signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Washington Capitals on July 2, 2025. He was placed on waivers on October 1, 2025, and after clearing waivers was assigned to the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate. With Hershey that season he recorded 15 goals and 24 points in 50 games while continuing to work as a middle-six winger with finishing ability.
Clarke’s professional path has involved multiple AHL assignments and an NHL recall, reflecting a development arc common to players refining their game while competing for a regular NHL opportunity. His time in Hershey emphasized consistent finishing and situational scoring for a veteran AHL lineup.
Driving Style and Strengths
Clarke is a right-shooting winger known for goal-scoring instincts, creative finishing, and an ability to execute high-end individual plays around the net. He combines puck skill with a competitive motor and has shown a knack for producing game-winning goals at the AHL level. Clarke’s work along the boards and willingness to engage in traffic complement his offensive attributes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Clarke’s career include his third-round selection by New Jersey in 2019, his AHL Player of the Week honor in December 2022, selection to the 2024 AHL All-Star Game alongside his brother, and his NHL debut in January 2024. His pair of 25-goal professional seasons stand out as defining scoring campaigns that helped establish his reputation in the AHL.
Graeme Clarke Career Wins
Clarke’s professional scoring record includes multiple 20-plus-goal AHL seasons and steady production across several AHL clubs. He has shown the ability to convert chances and deliver in close games, exemplified by his team-leading totals in goals and game-winning strikes during peak seasons.
AHL Highlights
Clarke posted 25 goals and 58 points in 68 games during the 2022–23 campaign, leading his club in offense, and followed with 25 goals and 49 points in 67 games the next season while leading the team with eight game-winning goals. Across AHL stops he established himself as a consistent middle-to-top-six scorer who can influence close results and contribute in special teams and even-strength situations.
Other Performances
Prior to turning pro Clarke scored notable junior goals, including lacrosse-style finishes in the OHL that drew attention to his creativity. His junior playoff performances and the ability to resume scoring after injury interruptions speak to resilience and competitive readiness at higher levels.
Graeme Clarke Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Clarke was born to parents who were completing graduate work at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and was raised in the Ottawa area where hockey formed a central part of family life. He has two younger siblings who also play hockey; his brother Brandt has reached the NHL level and his sister Mackenzie has played collegiately.
Personal Life
Clarke’s family background provided both support and a hockey-rich environment that aided his development from minor hockey through the OHL and into the professional ranks. Public details focus on his hockey lineage and upbringing; Clarke maintains a professional focus on advancing his career within the NHL and AHL systems.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Clarke sign with the Washington Capitals on a one-year, two-way deal before being assigned to the Hershey Bears after clearing waivers. In Hershey he finished the season with 15 goals and 24 points in 50 games, contributing secondary scoring and situational finishing for a club competing for postseason positioning.
Clarke’s 2025 campaign reinforced his profile as a dependable AHL scorer and depth forward for NHL organizations seeking a right-shot winger capable of delivering timely goals. The season offered a base for continued development and potential future NHL opportunities as he builds on prior 20-plus-goal professional campaigns.