After missing out on some big names to open free agency, the Washington Capitals chose to rely on their prospects to fill the voids while making some smaller signings, one of them being forward Graeme Clarke.
Washington parted ways with a handful of solid players within the system this offseason, with Mike Sgarbossa, Mike Vecchione, Pierrick Dubé, Riley Sutter and more Hershey Bears opting to sign overseas for the upcoming campaign. That said, Clarke, who inked a one-year, two-way deal this summer, is a decent option to have in the system.
Clarke is coming off a decent season with the AHL's Iowa Wild, where he had 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points in 64 games. Before that, he put up back-to-back 25-goal seasons with the Utica Comets.
The 24-year-old is still growing his game and is a versatile winger who can play on either side. He can read the ice and play very well, has a wicked shot and he also does a good job at creating time and space for himself.
However, Clarke has only shown that he can be a consistent contributor at the AHL level, and still has ways to go when it comes to being a regular in the big leagues. That being said, he is a reliable option for D.C. to have as a call-up.
Clarke went in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft and still has plenty of upside, and starting him on a low-risk, two-way deal is a great way to potentially bring on board another promising rising scorer.