Senators Make Minor-League Move, Acquiring Local Talent Graeme Clarke

The Ottawa Senators may not have made a splash on NHL Trade Deadline Day, but they did manage to pull off an intriguing minor-league deal shortly after the deadline passed. The Senators have acquired forward Graeme Clarke from the Washington Capitals, a player with deep roots in the Ottawa community.

Clarke, who grew up in Ottawa, is no stranger to local hockey fans. He spent three impressive seasons in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s before making the leap to the professional ranks. In exchange for Clarke, the Senators are sending Wyatt Bongiovanni to the Capitals, a player who led Belleville in goals last season.

Originally selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Clarke has already made a brief appearance in three NHL games with the Devils. His AHL career has seen him play for teams in Hershey, Binghamton, Utica, and Iowa. Clarke was also part of the talented 67s squad whose chances at a Memorial Cup were dashed by the COVID shutdown. He showcased his skills on the international stage as well, representing Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he contributed three points in five games to help his team secure a gold medal.

Adding to the family legacy, Clarke’s younger brother, Brandt, is a defenseman for the LA Kings, and his sister, MacKenzie, plays defense for the St. Lawrence University women’s team. As for Graeme, he’s set to make his Belleville debut on Saturday night, when the Senators host the Comets at CAA Arena, offering fans a chance to see a local talent in action.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.