New Jersey Devils snap up Ottawa's Graeme Clarke in NHL draft
18-year-old was key part of Ottawa 67s offence last season
Ottawa's Graeme Clarke is officially on the path to the NHL.
The 18-year-old forward was chosen in the 3rd round of the NHL Entry Draft, 80th overall, by the New Jersey Devils Saturday afternoon, making him the highest drafted player born in the nation's capital.
Speaking to reporters at the draft in Vancouver, Clarke said he'd taken "big strides" during his past season with the Ottawa 67s.
Clarke scored 23 goals and put up 34 points with the Ontario Hockey League club, plus an additional 14 points in the playoffs.
"My second half of the season, I kind of rounded out my game and was able to play bigger minutes [in] more of a top-six role," he said.
"Just continuing to do that will allow me to make the Devils in the near future."
In a tweet, Ottawa 67s head coach André Tourigny said he was "very proud" of Clarke.
Clarke wasn't the first Ottawa 67s player drafted, however.
His teammate Nikita Okhotyuk, from Russia, was selected one round earlier — also by the New Jersey Devils.