Kings’ Brandt Clarke Hoping For Bigger Role
One of the top priorities for the Los Angeles Kings this summer will be re-signing top, young defenseman Brandt Clarke. The 23 year old racked up 81 points in 185 NHL games on his entry-level contract, including 40 points while playing in all 82 games of this season. He has already expressed his desire to stick in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future – but that desire may come with a catch. After a strong campaign, Clarke feels it’s time for more responsibility, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the April 27 episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast.
Clarke lined up as Los Angeles’ second-pair, right-defenseman this season. He operated behind Kings legend Drew Doughty and alongside veteran depth defenseman Joel Edmundson. Even with Edmundson’s knack for quiet results, the Kings’ second-pair still managed to outscore opponents 50-to-36, while racking up an expected-goal differential of 42.1-to-38.7 per Line Blender. Clarke’s game shined even brighter away from Edmundson. He outscored opponents 17-to-eight in roughly 350 minutes away from Edmundson, which amounted to only one-third of his total even-strength ice time this season.
Those are encouraging numbers for the Kings. On the heels of his first 40-point campaign, Clarke has proven an ability to step up and drive his line. He also proved to be a fantastic power-play quarterback, on the ice for 19 goals in 184 minutes of power-play ice time. But even when considering special teams, Los Angeles faces the same question. Can Clarke do enough to play above Doughty in the lineup?
Next season will be a contract year and almost certainly represent the beginning of sunset years for the 36-year-old Doughty. He fell to 23 points in 72 games this season after missing 52 games last year due to injury. It seems the days of Doughty’s 50-point seasons are well behind him. The two-time Stanley Cup champion added another feather to his cap this season with his third appearance at the Winter Olympics and now must face the challenge of turning over his role. It won’t be an easy transition. Even in a quiet year, Doughty led the Kings roster with 23 minutes of ice time on average, two more minutes than any other skater on the team. He continued to stand as a pillar of the lineup, while Los Angeles’ second and third defense pairs didn’t average more than 20 minutes each game.
On the first free agent contract of his career, Clarke will hope to flip those roles. Even ceding two minutes of ice time each night would bring the two defenders much more in-line. Los Angeles could also face a question of who to partner Clarke with as he climbs to star minutes. They will have roughly $18MM in cap space this summer, per PuckPedia, with Clarke and Andrei Kuzmenko as their biggest pending-free agents.
Any remaining salary cap could be dedicated to bringing in a difference-maker at left-defense – someone who could operate behind Michael Anderson while still offering more top-end upside than Edmundson. The market for left-defenders is slim this summer but a player like Mario Ferraro has experience standing up to 20 minutes a night for L.A.’s division rival, the San Jose Sharks. Ferraro is hoping for a deal with term this summer, which could go far in helping Los Angeles cement a top-four they can move into the future with – one that has Clarke at the helm.
This season, Clarke became the second Kings defenseman since 2000 to post a 40-point season before their 23rd birthday. The only other defender to achieve the feat in black-and-silver was Doughty. Now, the two will need to find a balance – with one in the midst of their big break and the other fading into retirement. Finding the right balance for their ice time could go far in cementing Los Angeles’ future, and helping the team break past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after five early exits in a row.
Lineup Notes: Paul, Hayton, Blomqvist
Shortly before the puck dropped on Game 5 in Tampa Bay, the Lightning shared that forward Nick Paul wouldn’t play due to illness. 21-year-old Conor Geekie replaced him in the lineup, a scratch since Game 1 of the series against Montreal.
Paul has yet to find the score sheet in four games, but the 6’4” penalty killer hardly needs to. His effort and physicality always make an imprint on the game, especially in the postseason. Averaging 10:43 a night so far in the opening round, it’s a dip below his regular season average, as benches are shortened in what has been a neck-and-neck battle against the Canadiens. On the other hand, Geekie played 57 games in the AHL this year, but he offers high skill as far as 6’4″ bottom six depth options typically are.
For the grinder to miss such a pivotal game, it raises the question on if the Ontario native will be healthy again in time for Friday’s Game 6. Clearly missing Paul, the Bolts came up short tonight, and they’ll need a win back in Montreal to avoid a fourth consecutive first round exit.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Utah Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton has returned to the lineup tonight for Game 5 against Vegas, noted by Jesse Granger of The Athletic. It’s a pleasant surprise, as the 25-year-old hasn’t played since March 24 as a result of an upper-body injury. He’ll assume the role of third line center. Liam O’Brien is the odd man out. A beloved teammate, “Spicy Tuna” appeared in the series’ first three games, but did not play more than 8:11 in any of them. The fourth line grinder managed to add a helper, but with just four points all season, Utah has infused more speed and skill. The Mammoth kept their cards held tight as defenseman Nick DeSimone took warmups, hinting at a possible 11 forward, seven defensemen arrangement. Instead, Hayton is all set for his first playoff action since the COVID-19 playoff bubble six years ago with the Arizona Coyotes.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled goaltender Joel Blomqvist from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for emergency backup duty, as observed by Seth Rorabaugh of the Tribune-Review. Both Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner were good to go against Philadelphia for Game 6, but the 24-year-old prospect was on hand just in case of any unforeseen events prior to puck drop. The “Baby Penguins” start their AHL playoff run tomorrow, so it figures that Sergey Murashov will get the start there, the two splitting duties all season. Meanwhile, Blomqvist will at least enjoy getting to spectate a massive game as the Pens try to claw back to a Game 7 after being down 3-0 in the series.
Evening Notes: Fiddler, Canucks GM Search, Laughton
Seattle Kraken prospect Blake Fiddler has committed to the University of Denver, shared in a post by College Puck NXT earlier today. The reigning National Champions (their third title since 2022) will bring in the 2025 second round selection out of the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings.
A 6’5” right-handed defenseman, Fiddler has a name which would ring a bell of any dedicated hockey fan of the last 20 years, son of Vernon Fiddler, who played forward in his 877 NHL games. As a result, he developed in an unconventional setting, a product of the Dallas Stars youth program.
Thought to be a potential late first-rounder last year, Fiddler fell slightly, as he isn’t thought to have the highest ceiling. Still, with many more flashy defensemen taken in this range often failing to make an NHL impact, the 18-year-old is a safe bet to become a solid shutdown righty with respectable offensive attributes, potentially a replacement someday for 33-year-old Adam Larsson in a middle-pairing role.
Until any of that though, Fiddler joins a Pioneers squad loaded with high end talent, alongside top 2026 defensive prospect Ryan Lin. Fiddler didn’t take a leap on the stat sheet in 2025-26, just three more points in one fewer game year-over-year, but his Oil Kings still had a strong season. With nothing else to prove in the WHL, the youngster will make a leap which should pay dividends in his long term development.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Fiddler was not the only son of a notable figure in the hockey world making headlines today, as Patrick Burke interviewed with the Vancouver Canucks for their general manager opening, per Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK. Son of longtime executive Brian Burke, who himself was once general manager of the franchise, Patrick is a highly respected figure across the league, serving as Vice President of Player Safety since 2021. Of course, the Brooklyn, New York resident has a background with player evaluation also, serving as a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2006-13. It’s fair to call Burke a long shot for the job, but it’s a well deserved interview considering his contributions to the game across multiple facets. Vancouver is leaving no stone unturned as they search for their 13th general manager.
- Los Angeles Kings deadline acquisition Scott Laughton may have found a home out west, as he has a “high” interest level in re-signing, noted by The Fourth Period’s Dennis Bernstein. The veteran, who will soon turn 32, was a nice fit with the Kings enjoying an uptick in ice time, as well as a jump to his highest even strength corsi-for metrics in over five years (48%). Laughton notched five goals in 21 games wearing the silver and black as a dependable third line center. The Ontario native has a projected value of $3.038MM according to AFP Analytics, effectively the same from his current contract. Yet based on the demand for centers, it’s safe to assume Laughton could fetch more on the open market. As retired legend Anže Kopitar’s $7MM comes off the books, there’s plenty of room to lock up the player who they relinquished a second-round pick for last March.
Kings’ Quinton Byfield Suffered Two Oblique Tears
As occurs each year, after teams are eliminated from the postseason, players start to disclose the injuries they were managing during the final stretch of the regular season and the playoffs. According to Zach Dooley of the Los Angeles Kings, Kings forward Quinton Byfield tore his right oblique just after the Olympic break, and tore his left oblique after the other healed.
Fortunately, it doesn’t appear that Byfield will need surgery to repair either muscle. He’ll take the first few weeks of the offseason to rest and recover before beginning his summer training.
Although it should never be a formal expectation that a player should perform through injuries, it is typically how most hockey players operate, especially at this time of year. Typically, you can tell if a player is playing through something, as they typically aren’t as good as they usually are. However, in Byfield’s case, you’d never know he was dealing with anything.
The former second overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft was arguably playing the best hockey of his NHL career after the league returned from the Olympics. Finishing out the regular season, Byfield scored 13 goals and 19 points in 24 games with a +4 rating, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game. Additionally, he performed well in the faceoff dot, winning 53.3% of draws over that stretch.
Byfield will want to build on that success entering next season. Unless Los Angeles makes a significant splash, Byfield should assume the center role on the Kings’ first line, replacing Anze Kopitar after his retirement. Over the last three years, Byfield has averaged between 50 and 55 points a season, though the Kings will need much more offense than that. If he can continue the same pace he had after the Olympic break, Los Angeles would be far more comfortable having a 65-70 point center leading the pack.
Marcus Hogberg Signs With SHL’s Linköping HC
Netminder Marcus Högberg is leaving professional hockey in North America for the second time in his career. According to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, Högberg has signed a three-year deal with the SHL’s Linköping HC.
His first stint in North America began in the mid-2010s. Högberg was selected by the Ottawa Senators with the 78th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. It took him several years to make the jump, waiting until the 2017-18 season to join the AHL’s Belleville Senators on a full-time basis.
He played relatively well, topping out in the 2018-19 campaign when he earned a 21-11-10 record in 39 games with a .917 SV% and 2.32 GAA. That performance afforded him an extended look in the NHL as Ottawa’s backup goalie during the 2019-20 season, registering a 5-8-8 record in 21 starts with a .904 SV% and 3.12 GAA.
Unfortunately, that was essentially the end of his tenure with the Senators. After a disastrous year in the 2020-21 season, Högberg left Ottawa as a free agent, joining Linköping HC.
After spending three years in Sweden, Högberg activated his NHL opt-out clause and signed a two-year contract with the New York Islanders. Due to Semyon Varlamov‘s injury last season, Högberg earned an extended look with the Islanders, backing up Ilya Sorokin, finishing with a 2-6-3 record in 15 games with a .878 SV% and 3.38 GAA.
New York pursued superior options last summer, landing David Rittich on a one-year deal, which pushed Högberg to the third-string role. He almost exclusively played for the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders, managing a 12-13-10 record in 31 games with a .890 SV% and 2.92 GAA.
Being that this will be his third stint with Linköping HC, Högberg is clearly comfortable with the SHL organization. Throughout his professional career in Sweden, Högberg has a 110-102-0 record in 219 games with a .915 SV% and 2.40 GAA, including 20 shutouts.
Breaking Down The Senators’ Options For Drake Batherson
The Ottawa Senators powered through an up-and-down season to sneak into the playoffs, only to be decisively bounced by the Carolina Hurricanes. The result was a disappointment, but it was a true measuring-stick series that showed the Senators how far they are from being a true Stanley Cup contender. Now the team enters the offseason with a lot of uncertainty around their captain, their netminding, and pending UFAs. However, one player whose future could also be decided is forward Drake Batherson, who can become a UFA himself on July 1st, 2027.
Batherson was one of the few Senators forwards to contribute offensively to the first round of the playoffs, scoring three goals and an assist in four games. This production came on the heels of a career year, in which the 28-year-old tallied 33 goals and 38 assists in 79 games.
That kind of production will almost certainly land Batherson a rich new contract when he reaches free agency in just over 14 months, but if you are the Ottawa Senators, do you want to pay upwards of $9MM for a player who will be entering his 30s in the second year of a potential six- or seven-year deal? It’s hard to say, but it’s something Ottawa has to think about over the next few weeks, with just a single year left on Batherson’s contract at just $4.975MM ($6.55MM in actual salary).
After a career year and a strong showing in a brief playoff window, Batherson’s stock is unlikely to be any higher, meaning a potential trade could yield the Senators a pretty healthy return, especially given how poor the free-agent market is. Any team looking to acquire Batherson will almost certainly want to do so with an extension in place, but there is risk in that, as many teams have found out the hard way.
PHR released a piece three months ago about several instances of the trade-and-sign move backfiring on teams that acquire a player and quickly extend them, without seeing them play with their group for an extended period. Jonathan Huberdeau, Timo Meier and Pierre-Luc Dubois are great examples of that approach going sideways, but just because there are cautionary tales doesn’t mean Batherson will become one. The flip side is also true, given that Matthew Tkachuk was a trade-and-extend as well, but that also doesn’t suggest Batherson will be an instant fit on a new team. These are considerations that a potentially acquiring team will have.
The other major consideration, and likely the biggest, is what assets the team will need to move to acquire him, along with the cash required to extend him. If Batherson posts another 30+ goal, 70+ point season, $9MM annually will certainly be in play on a six- or seven-year deal. But if Ottawa gets out in front of things and trades him this season, what will it take to acquire him?
As mentioned earlier, the trade market will be robust this summer, making Batherson an expensive trade target with few comparables, although one recent trade candidate could offer a glimpse into the trade market for forwards. The Pittsburgh Penguins tried to trade Rickard Rakell last summer and potentially asked for a top-tier prospect, a first-round pick, and additional assets. The caveat is that Pittsburgh never received an offer for Rakell to their liking, but they had their sights set high for a Rakell trade.
Batherson, a younger and more consistent scorer than Rakell, would have higher trade value even though he has just a year left on his deal. Batherson is four years younger than Rakell was last summer and has four consecutive 60+ point seasons to his credit, while Rakell has just three 60+ point seasons in his entire career. Another issue with comparing last summer’s trade request to this year’s potential request for Batherson is that the Penguins were looking to the future with their requests, whereas the Senators would probably prefer roster players who can help them win now. This would not be an easy trade to facilitate.
There are many other factors at play as well. If Ottawa trades Batherson, it creates an offensive hole for a team that already needs more offense up front and shifts their hunt from potentially needing two top-nine forwards to needing three. Given the thin free-agent market and their poor farm system, Ottawa might find their options limited when it comes to upgrading their forward group, even if they hold onto Batherson.
Then there is the fact that Batherson is a homegrown talent, having been drafted by the Senators in the fourth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (121st overall). He is clearly loved by the franchise, which was quick to shoot down trade rumours last spring when they emerged in the media. Ottawa has historically had issues hanging onto homegrown talent and has watched many players move on and win in other cities. That may be a consideration if and when both sides begin talks on a contract extension.
Couple the Batherson conundrum with the drama surrounding captain Brady Tkachuk and goaltender Linus Ullmark, and you have the makings of a wild offseason in Ottawa as the team tries to move on from a difficult season. Batherson’s next contract will likely not age gracefully, particularly as he approaches his mid-30s, but the Senators might not have a choice but to extend him as they try to find some success with their current core group of players.
Stars’ Jamie Benn Fined For Cross-Checking
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has announced that Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has been fined $2,604.17, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman.
The incident occurred during the third period of Tuesday’s Game 5, with the Stars trailing 3-1. Just seconds after taking a high hit from Hartman, Benn retaliated by delivering a cross-check to Hartman’s ribs before a second, more dangerous blow connected with the back of Hartman’s head. While the Wild forward was visibly dazed, officials assessed minor penalties to both players, with an unsportsmanlike conduct for Hartman and cross-checking for Benn.
This fine brings another entry in the Department of Player Safety’s file on the Stars’ captain. Benn is no stranger to postseason discipline; most notably, he received a two-game suspension during the 2023 Western Conference Final for a similar cross-check to the neck of Vegas’ Mark Stone. Just last season, Benn was also fined the maximum for roughing Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele during the second round.
The decision to opt for a fine rather than a suspension follows a consistent, albeit controversial pattern for the league this season. The Department of Player Safety has been hesitant to hand out postseason bans, previously issuing maximum fines to players like Ryan Strome and Seth Jarvis for similar high-sticking or cross-checking infractions in high-stakes games.
While Benn avoids a seat in the press box for Game 6, his “repeat offender” status and history of targeted hits in the playoffs continue to be a talking point. With the Stars now facing elimination and trailing 3-2 in the series, they will need Benn to keep his emotions in check as they head back to Minnesota.
Kings Notes: Doughty, Kempe, Clarke, Kuemper, Edmundson
The Los Angeles Kings’ season came to an abrupt and disappointing end this week following a four-game sweep at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche. As players gathered for exit interviews, the focus shifted from a frustrating postseason to an offseason filled with contract questions and health updates.
Veteran defenseman Drew Doughty is entering the final year of his contract. While he remains the face of the Kings’ blueline, he admitted that discussions regarding an extension have not yet begun. Despite recording 23 points in 72 games, Doughty was candid about his own performance, stating it “wasn’t as good as it needed to be.” However, his desire to remain a “King for Life” hasn’t wavered. “I want to stay here,” Doughty said. “If they approach me to get something done, I’m going to get it done.”
Additional Notes:
- Forward Adrian Kempe shed light on the lower-body injury that hampered him in late March, revealing it was a foot injury that impacted his play for about five or six games. While it bothered him during the regular-season stretch, Kempe insisted it “didn’t really affect” him by the time the playoffs began.
- Defenseman Brandt Clarke is a pending restricted free agent. Clarke, who emerged as a reliable top-four option with 31 points in 82 games this season, confirmed that while talks occurred during the year, both sides tabled them to focus on the playoff push. “I love Los Angeles. I love my teammates,” Clarke noted. “I want to lock myself in and be part of this core.”
- Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is coming off a heavy workload, appearing in 50 games this season with a 2.78 GAA and .891 SV%. When asked about representing Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships, Kuemper remained non-committal, stating he is currently uncertain about attending.
- Despite the sweep, veteran defenseman Joel Edmundson—who is in the middle of a four-year deal—emphasized that the locker room remains tight-knit. “I love this team,” Edmundson said. “We all love each other and care for each other… that’s going to pay off in the long run. It gets us excited for the next couple years.” With several key pieces nearing free agency and a core that struggled to find its footing against Colorado, the Kings’ front office now faces a pivotal summer to ensure that the “next couple years” Edmundson referenced lead to a deeper playoff run.
Atlantic Notes: Tkachuk, Dobson, Der-Arguchintsev
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk took center stage Wednesday during his end-of-season press conference, using the time to forcefully shut down growing speculation regarding his future with the club. While the rest of the team’s end-of-season press conference was held on Monday after the Carolina Hurricanes swept the Senators, Tkachuk was delayed to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Lyla. During the discussions, Tkachuk wasted little time addressing trade rumors that he labeled a “distraction.”
“I feel like I’ve never shown, never said, none of those things have ever come out of my mouth, and quite honestly, it’s just getting frustrating,” Tkachuk said. “I have been fully committed to this team, to this city.”
General Manager Steve Staios echoed that sentiment earlier in the week, calling the rumors “nonsense.” Tkachuk, 26, is under contract for two more seasons and finished the year with 59 points in 60 games. Despite his regular-season production, he was held scoreless in the opening-round sweep, a result he admitted was a “big shot in the confidence.” He plans to meet with Staios following the U18 World Championships to discuss how to improve the roster for next season.
Additional notes around the Atlantic:
- The Montreal Canadiens received a significant boost during Wednesday’s optional skate as defenseman Noah Dobson returned to the ice. Dobson has been sidelined since April 11 after blocking a shot with his left hand, an injury that forced him to miss the start of the Canadiens’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. While he skated individually and has yet to be cleared for full contact, his presence is a major step forward for a Habs blueline that has relied heavily on Mike Matheson and Lane Hutson in his absence.
- Former Maple Leafs prospect Semyon Der-Arguchintsev is reportedly interested in a return to the NHL after a productive stint in the KHL. His agent, Shumi Babaev, confirmed that they have already reached out to the organization to express a desire to rejoin the system. “Semyon is considering the option of returning to Toronto,” Babaev told R.org’s Daria Tuboltseva. “We contacted former general manager Brad Treliving and expressed our desire to return to the club’s system. Now we are waiting for the appointment of a new general manager and to understand his position.” Der-Arguchintsev, 25, recorded 37 points in 59 KHL games this season.
Latest On Maple Leafs GM Search
April 29th: According to Nick Alberga of Leafs Morning Take, a third candidate has made it to the final stages of the Maple Leafs GM search. Michael Futa, currently serving as a special assistant to the General Manager with the Carolina Hurricanes, has joined White and Chayka as a finalist for the role. Futa spent many years with the Los Angeles Kings organization as the team’s Director of Amateur Scouting, Vice President of Hockey Operations, and Assistant General Manager.
April 24th: In a new update from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, the Toronto Maple Leafs are likely down to their final two candidates for their open General Manager position. Still, Friedman doesn’t expect anything to be announced soon as the Maple Leafs continue to do their due diligence on each candidate, who couldn’t be more different.
One of the candidates is Scott White, Assistant General Manager of the Dallas Stars, as reported a few days ago. White was hired by the Stars organization after the 2005 lockout, working his way up from their AHL affiliate to the AGM position in 2016. In his developmental philosophy, White typically values players of high character, often providing prospects and draft options with numerous character assessments.
That’s not to say he doesn’t value talent, but he is keenly aware of what a bad locker room can create, even with the necessary talent to win. Unsurprisingly, the Maple Leafs are interested in allowing that philosophy to dictate the future of the organization. Toronto has undeniable talent, but the team has struggled to mesh well in recent years. White would be an interesting candidate to come in and make some blunt changes to reshuffle the team’s chemistry.
Meanwhile, Friedman shared that John Chayka, former General Manager of the Arizona Coyotes, is the other finalist, and likely the favorite. Chayka has not worked in the NHL since he left the Coyotes organization in 2020, as he’s largely focused on his company, Compass Restaurant Group, along with his wife.
Additionally, it was unlikely he would find another General Manager role before that due to some controversy surrounding him toward the end of his time in Arizona. Chayka was suspended from the NHL by Commissioner Gary Bettman for pursuing opportunities with other clubs while under contract with the Coyotes. Additionally, the Coyotes were forced to forfeit a second-round pick in 2020 and a first-round pick in 2021 for hosting a private scouting combine for draft-eligible prospects under Chayka.
Still, Chayka has what the Maple Leafs want. He has a shrewd analytical mind, similar to Eric Tulsky of the Carolina Hurricanes and Sunny Mehta of the New Jersey Devils. Like White, Chayka would likely implement changes to enhance the team’s talent; however, concerns about the locker room atmosphere may persist.
Friedman pointed out that although the team has narrowed its choices down to two finalists, neither White nor Chayka has advanced to the second round of negotiations, which involves meeting with the Maple Leafs’ ownership group. The first candidate to reach this stage is likely to be named the team’s next General Manager in a few weeks.