Brett Clark (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

Clark was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1996 from the University of Maine, where he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. He spent the following season with the Canadian National Team program before making his professional debut in 1997–98. After a brief stint in the AHL, he debuted with the Canadiens and scored a goal on his 21st birthday. He was claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999 expansion draft but struggled to find a role, finding success instead with their minor-league affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears, winning the Turner Cup in 2001. Traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2002, he spent most of the next three seasons with the Hershey Bears, twice being named the team's best defenseman and leading the AHL in plus/minus. After the 2004 NHL lockout, at age 28, Clark finally established himself as a two-way defenseman with the Avalanche, appearing in 80 games and scoring 36 points in 2005–06. He scored in his playoff debut and finished tied for the team scoring lead among defensemen. In 2006–07 he had a career-high season, playing all 82 games and leading the NHL in average shifts per game. He signed a two-year contract extension with Colorado in 2007 but suffered a dislocated shoulder in February 2008, ending his season. He returned in 2008–09 to set an Avalanche record of 238 hits. After eight seasons with the Avalanche, he signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 5, 2010. With the Lightning, he was re-inserted on the power play and produced 9 goals, helping the team advance to the 2011 Eastern Conference finals. Following the 2012 NHL lockout, he signed an AHL contract with the Oklahoma City Barons, then returned to the NHL with the Minnesota Wild for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. He later signed a professional try-out with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2013–14, contributing 6 goals and 14 points in 53 games.

Reader's Guide

Brett Clark's career is marked by persistence and late development. After being drafted in the sixth round and spending several seasons in the minors, he did not become a full-time NHL regular until age 28. Once established with the Colorado Avalanche, he became a reliable two-way defenseman, leading the NHL in average shifts per game in both 2006–07 and 2007–08 before a shoulder injury cut short the latter season. He set an Avalanche franchise record for hits in 2008–09. His tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning saw a resurgence on the power play, contributing to the team's run to the 2011 Eastern Conference finals. After his playing career, Clark remained in the Avalanche organization for seven seasons as a player development consultant and later as an assistant coach with their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, before leaving over COVID-19 protocols. He later served as an assistant coach in junior hockey with the Colorado Rampage. Clark became a United States citizen in 2018.

Did You Know?

• Clark scored his first NHL goal on his 21st birthday.
• He won the Turner Cup in 2001 with the Orlando Solar Bears, the Thrashers' minor-league affiliate.
• He led the NHL in average shifts per game in both the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons.
• Clark set an Avalanche franchise record of 238 hits in the 2008–09 season.