Graeme Clarke

Graeme Clarke (born April 24, 2001) is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round, 80th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Junior
Clarke was selected sixth overall by the Ottawa 67's in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection. He scored his first Ontario Hockey League (OHL) goal and assist in the third game of the 2017–18 season, on September 24, 2017, against the Erie Otters. On January 21, 2018, he scored a Michigan goal against the Peterborough Petes, a move he had done successfully multiple times prior to his OHL career. He finished the year with 14 goals and 25 points in 63 games.

Returning to the 67's for the 2018–19 season, Clarke scored his second Michigan goal at the OHL level on March 8, 2019. His regular season production increased from the previous year's, netting 23 goals and 34 points in 55 games, along with seven goals and 14 points in 18 playoff games as the 67's made the OHL finals, ultimately losing to the Guelph Storm. Following the season, he was selected 80th overall in the third round of the 2019 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils.

Despite missing all but 16 games of the 2019–20 season due to a shoulder injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, Clarke still managed nine goals and 17 points, his first season above a point-per-game pace.

Professional
With the 2020–21 OHL season postponed and later cancelled due to the pandemic, Clarke and his brother, Brandt, began the season with HC Nové Zámky of the Slovak Extraliga. On February 8, 2021, after six games in Slovakia over which he totaled just one assist, he signed a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Binghamton Devils, then-affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. He would sign a three-year, entry-level contract with New Jersey less than a month later, on March 6. In 31 AHL games with Binghamton, Clarke scored eight goals and 18 points.

Clarke was assigned to the Utica Comets for the entirety of the 2021–22 season, scoring 24 points in 52 regular season games, as well as one point in three playoff games as the Comets received a bye to the second round, where they were eliminated by the Rochester Americans.

The 2022–23 season saw Clarke more than double his previous year's point production, totaling 58 points in 68 games. He was named AHL player of the week for the week ending on December 25, 2022, during which he scored four goals and six points in two games. In the playoffs, Clarke put up six points in as many games, as the Comets were once again eliminated in the second round, this time by the Toronto Marlies.

Clarke made his NHL debut on January 6, 2024, in a 6–4 loss against the Vancouver Canucks. He and Brandt were both selected for the 2024 AHL All-Star Game, the second pair of brothers to attend the game together after Peter and Chris Ferraro in 1997 and 2003. He would finish the AHL season with 25 goals and 49 points in 67 games, including eight game-winning goals to lead the Comets in goals and game-winners, and rank second in points.

On June 21, 2024, Clarke was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Adam Beckman.

International play
Clarke represented Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring three points in five games en route to a gold medal.

Personal life
Clarke has two ice hockey-playing younger siblings, both defencemen. His brother Brandt was selected eighth overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, while his sister Mackenzie plays for St. Lawrence University.