Graeme Clarke's Dream Start with Belleville Senators After Trade to Ottawa
Graeme Clarke, the 24-year-old forward from Ottawa, is off to a dream start with the Belleville Senators, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. Just ten days after being acquired by his boyhood NHL franchise from the Washington Capitals ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, Clarke has already made a significant impact on the ice.
Immediate Impact in Belleville
In his first three games with the Belleville Senators, Clarke has accumulated an impressive nine points, including four goals and five assists. He has also recorded 14 shots and a plus-5 rating, showcasing his offensive prowess and defensive responsibility. This stellar performance comes after a whirlwind transition, with Clarke making his Belleville debut on March 7, just over 24 hours after the trade deadline and following a grueling 17-hour travel day.
In that debut game against the Utica Comets, Clarke set up Arthur Kaliyev for a goal, won a face-off to assist on Olle Lycksell's goal, tipped in a Carter Yakemchuk point shot, and scored on his own rebound. He finished the game with two goals, two assists, four shots, and a plus-4 rating, setting the tone for his subsequent multi-point games.
A Homecoming for the Ottawa Native
Clarke, who was raised in Ottawa and played for the Ottawa 67's in junior hockey, expressed excitement about the trade. "You get traded in the middle of the year and you don't know what to think," Clarke told the Ottawa Citizen. "And then when they say 'Ottawa,' you kind of get excited for the opportunity. Just Belleville, in a sense, it's close to home, and for my first game, I had lots of family in and people coming in to watch. Obviously, had a good game."
This move marks a fresh start for Clarke, who has played for four different AHL teams in three seasons. Originally selected 80th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 NHL Draft, he saw limited NHL action with just three games in four years with the Devils, despite strong AHL performances including 58 points in 2022-23 and 49 in 2023-24. A promising stint with the Minnesota Wild was derailed by a broken kneecap in training camp, and prior to the trade, he was playing third-line minutes in Hershey with the Washington Capitals' system.
Adapting and Excelling in a New System
Clarke attributes his early success to improvements in his game, particularly his skating. "I'm a better skater now than I was in junior," he said. "I feel like I can use my legs to create separation more now, beat guys in different ways. Before, it felt like I was more of a shooter and a scorer. I think I still am now, but I think I can do a lot more things in the defensive zone, neutral zone, just coming up and down the ice a little bit quicker. I kind of rounded out my game in pro."
Playing centre for the first time in years, Clarke has quickly clicked with linemates Olle Lycksell and Tyler Boucher. He is flourishing in Belleville's more offensive-minded system, which has allowed him to showcase his versatility and skill set. This new beginning with the Senators feels different for Clarke, as he is now just one phone call away from joining the Ottawa Senators in the NHL, a dream he has been working towards since his early days in Ottawa.
Born in Waconia, Minnesota, while his parents attended the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Clarke moved to Ottawa before the age of two, making this trade a true homecoming. With his determination to win a contract with the Ottawa Senators, Clarke's dream start in Belleville is a promising step towards achieving that goal, as he continues to impress with his on-ice performance and adaptability in a new environment.
