Damian Clara

December 2025 – After a challenging 2024-25 season that saw him move from the SHL to the Finnish Liiga and then to the AHL, Clara looks like a goalie on the rise again. The Italian netminder has taken a clear step forward in his development at the perfect time as he prepares for the Winter Olympics in his home country. Through 21 starts, he’s posted a 2.45 GAA and a .895 save percentage. He’s also the youngest starting goaltender in the SHL with more than ten starts, which makes his performance even more impressive.

Anaheim’s goaltending picture remains somewhat uncertain. Lukas Dostal appears to be the long-term starter, but the backup role is wide open with Petr Mrazek’s contract expiring this season and Ville Husso’s deal up after the 2026-27 season. Clara could realistically push for a job as early as next season. The Ducks have a solid group of goalie prospects, Vyacheslav Buteyets, Tomas Suchanek, Calle Clang, and Elijah Neuenshwander, but Clara still stands out as the most promising of the bunch.

Standing 6-6, Clara is a towering presence in the crease. For such a big goalie, his skating is impressive, and his puck tracking is already elite. He uses his size well, cutting down angles and staying calm in the net. His transition to the pro ranks at such a young age has been underrated. Like any developing goalie, he still has things to polish. His aggressiveness can lead to trouble, and he needs to improve his consistency. Even so, he has the tools and potential to become an impactful NHL netminder.

From a fantasy perspective, Clara is not a target in yearly leagues since he is unlikely to play in Anaheim this year. But he’s a strong dynasty stash. If his development continues on its current track, he could be splitting starts with Dostal sooner than expected. He is a low-risk, high-reward option if you have the space and patience to wait. Kenny Kaminsky

June 2025 – Clara, the Anaheim Ducks’ second-round pick (60th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, was named to the host country, Italy’s, preliminary roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. He has played for Italy in each of the past three IIHF Men’s Division IA World Championships. He was the first Italian player drafted by an NHL team, but he has yet to make his NHL debut. However, he moved to North America late in the 2024-25 season and joined the Ducks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, appearing in two games. 

During the 2024-25 season, before joining the Gulls, he played in Europe, posting a combined 12-17-0 record with two shutouts, split between Kärpät of the Finnish Liiga and Färjestad of the SHL. In 2023-24, Clara was named the top junior player in HockeyAllsvenskan, posting a 25-8-0 record with four shutouts, a 2.23 GAA, and a .913 SV%. He helped Brynas earn a promotion to the SHL after a 10-1 record, with a .938 SV% and 1.38 GAA in the playoffs. Clara is under contract until the end of the 2027-28 season with Anaheim. With constant John Gibson trade rumors, Clara might get an NHL opportunity behind Lukáš Dostál. Keep an eye on the Ducks’ goaltending situation moving forward, and put Clara on your watch list. Mark Henry

February 2025 – Clara transferred to FinnisKärpät Kärpät after his contract with Swedish club Färjestad was terminated on February 15, 2025. Mark Henry