Brandt Clarke agreed to a five-year, $37 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, avoiding restricted free agency ahead of July 1. The deal carries an average annual value of $7.4 million.
The 23-year-old defenseman posted career highs this season with eight goals, 32 assists, and 40 points across 82 games. He ranked third in the NHL with 185 blocked shots and added one assist in four Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Negotiations and Future Implications
Negotiations centered on a five-year term for much of the summer after earlier talks had explored a longer contract. Both sides prioritized keeping Clarke in Los Angeles and finalized the numbers this week.
Kings general manager Ken Holland characterized the agreement as common ground after Clarke’s growing production made a longer-term deal tougher to resolve. He described Clarke as a highly offensive blueliner and noted the club preferred to secure a medium-term deal now with the league’s salary cap expected to rise before Clarke’s next contract.
With longtime captain Anze Kopitar retired and defenseman Drew Doughty entering the final year of his contract, Clarke indicated that the new deal underscores a greater responsibility for the team’s younger core, including forwards Alex Laferriere and Quinton Byfield.
Clarke also welcomed the chance to play under Peter Laviolette, hired as head coach on June 9. He pointed to Laviolette’s history of elevating top defensemen and anticipated a style that emphasizes puck possession, blue line playmaking, and playing on the attack.
Selected eighth overall by Los Angeles in the 2021 NHL Draft, Clarke has recorded 81 points (15 goals, 66 assists) in 185 regular-season games and three points (two goals, one assist) in 10 postseason appearances. This new contract signifies not only a commitment from the Kings but also sets the stage for Clarke to become a cornerstone of the franchise’s future.