Eishockey Forum - Einschätzung Zukunft Damian Clara aus www.thepucknetwork.com

[Zitat] Clara should be playing in North America this season, either in the AHL or the ECHL. With Clang and Vyacheslav Buteyets playing overseas next season, the competition for playing time in San Diego’s crease won’t be quite as challenging, but it will still be crowded. Either Ville Husso or Laurent Brossoit will likely be San Diego’s starter, leaving the backup position to be filled by either Clara or Tomas Suchanek. I expect both to get some games with the Gulls, but it will be interesting to see which of the two young goaltenders gets more time in the AHL. Given how the playoffs went last year, it looks like Clara will have a better chance to do so, but that’s far from a guarantee. Also, there’s a chance it may be more beneficial for him to be in the ECHL if it means getting more playing time. With a new league on a new continent, here are my expectations for Clara this season. First, he’s played in five AHL games over the past two seasons, plus two playoff games, joining the team at the end of the year each time. This season, I’d like to see him play in at least 15 games with the Gulls. Second, I’d like for Clara to get at least one shutout in what will hopefully be his first full AHL season. Finally, if he does play in the ECHL, to put up very good numbers in that league. Clara is still at least a couple of seasons away from making it to the NHL, but with Clang and Buteyets heading overseas, the odds of him making it the way Buteyets did last year have gone up. But to be in the NHL on a consistent basis, Clara needs to first show he can be a starter at the AHL level. That likely won’t happen this season, but the starting job in San Diego will very much be up for grabs in the 2027-2028 season. If Clara can grab it and play well for the Gulls for a season or two, we could see him make his NHL debut in the 2028-2029 or 2029-2030 seasons. Clara has two years left on his entry-level deal, and he’ll be a restricted free agent once it’s complete. As long as he’s put up solid numbers in the AHL, he should be re-signed by the Ducks. While it’s not a guarantee he’s Anaheim’s goaltender of the future, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s part of Anaheim’s rotation for some time in the years to come.