Wild trade Adam Beckman to Devils for Minnesota native Graeme Clarke

In a quintessential offseason change-of-scenery trade, the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils are giving a couple of prospects a fresh start.

In Matt Hendricks’ first trade as the Wild’s AHL Iowa general manager, he moved forward Adam Beckman to the Devils for Waconia, Minn., native Graeme Clarke. Both players are pending restricted free agents.

Clarke, 23, a third-round pick in 2019, had 25 goals and 49 points for AHL Utica last season and played three games for New Jersey. He led the Comets in goals, game-winning goals (eight) and shots (202) and ranked second in points. He has 68 goals and 149 points in 218 career AHL games.

Beckman, 23, taken five picks before Clarke in 2019, had a strong training camp for the Wild in 2021-22 but never got any traction in Iowa nor in short stints in Minnesota He had 19 goals and 33 points in 51 games for Iowa last season and 108 points in 181 career AHL games. He has three assists in 23 career NHL games.

“I’m just super thankful for all the teammates, staff and media I’ve gotten the pleasure to work with in Minnesota and Iowa,” Beckman said. “I’m looking forward to the future and thankful for the new opportunity!”

The Devils liked Beckman in their limited viewings of him in Minnesota. Like Beckman, Clarke was blocked by the acceleration of other forwards in New Jersey. According to a Devils source, “He has real good hands and can really shoot the puck. Just needs to keep his feet moving throughout his shifts.”

Interestingly, the same thing could be said about Beckman.

(Photo of Graeme Clarke: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)