With the OHL still waiting to begin their season and some uncertainty about if and when they will get started, a pair of notable brothers are headed elsewhere to get back to playing. HC Nove Zamky of the Slovakian Extraliga announced that Graeme and Brandt Clarke have been acquired on loan from the Ottawa 67’s and Barrie Colts, respectively. The lucky club lands a recent third-round pick and a player most expect to be selected in the top five of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Graeme, 19, was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 draft. The talented winger is eager to get back on the ice after missing all but 16 games last season. He did however score at a better than point-per-game pace in that limited action and has the potential to develop into a dangerous scorer if he can stay healthy.
However, the prize of the Clarke family is likely to be Brandt. The 17-year-old right-shot defenseman impresses in all areas of the game, including recording 38 points in 57 games as an OHL rookie last season. With size and skill to go with those results, Brandt has emerged as one of the top prospects in the 2021 class, potentially even a candidate to be selected first overall.
With Zamky, the Clarke brothers could easily become the team’s top two players, even in their first pro experience. The Slovakian Extraliga lacks much in the way of world-class talent and Zamky in particular does not currently roster anyone with NHL or even AHL experience. The club is currently in the middle of the pack in Slovakia, but the addition of two elite, young players could give them a major boost, regardless of whether the Clarkes return to the OHL in a couple months or not.