Damian Clara stood his own against a brutal Swedish team on Wednesday. He endured a barrage of shots coming from everyone, whether it was Rasmus Andersson, Rasmus Dahlin, or William Nylander. No matter how hard they tried, they just couldn't break him.
That resulted in 46 saves on 49 shots, keeping the Italians in the game. Although Sweden eventually pulled away and won, 5-2, Olympic (and hockey) fans couldn't help but notice a new star being born. Suddenly, people recognized Clara like their momma's classic pasta recipe made from scratch.
Indeed, Mario. Mamma Mia, indeed.
But here's the thing. The Golden Knights can solidify their goaltending room with a simple acquisition. Adin Hill has significantly underperformed this season and has been constantly hurt. Although Akira Schmid has been considerably better, questions loom about his long-term stay with Vegas.
So here's a wild and crazy idea, dear reader. Why not inquire about the young netminder and see what you can get for him? Who knows? You might have a solid goaltending tandem with Carl Lindbom and Clara. It might also lead the franchise to finally stop chasing the ghost of Marc-Andre Fleury.
What does Damian Clara bring to the table for any team—including the Vegas Golden Knights?
The first thing you'll notice about Clara is that he's big—literally. The Italian netminder stands at 6'6", making it much easier for him to take up space in the net. He's also balanced and makes solid pushes in the goal. He also moves well for a goaltender his size and knows how to use his feet, which poses problems for opposing teams.
However, setting his feet in also leaves him prone to the occasional fakeout. That could become a major problem if opposing attackers catch on to his feet being set. Think of attackers like Nikita Kucherov in a shootout setting, where they can deke him out of his skates.
Still, Clara's been as good as momma's fettuccine alfredo dish in 2025-26. He has a GAA of 2.49 and a save percentage of .888 while on loan with Brynas IF of the SHL (30 games played) and has done well in international competition. He has a GAA of 2.38 and a save percentage of .899 in three games with the Italian team at all levels.
What could it take for the Golden Knights to acquire Clara?
The Olympic performance might jack up the price for the Italian goaltender. When you stand strong against a solid Swedish team, people will start noticing you. String together some strong performances and your value will grow. Perhaps McCrimmon should throw in a pizza and a cannoli.
As it stands, a fifth-round pick would suffice here. There are plenty of concerns about whether Clara will be a standout netminder for the Anaheim Ducks. Anaheim is relying on Lukas Dostal to be the future in net, which could leave the Italian Olympian without much room to maneuver.
While it's unlikely the Golden Knights will move off Adin Hill any time soon (yet), it's still an entertaining idea to consider. Imagine a young goaltending duo that can carry the Golden Knights through rough times and get them wins galore. That would be one spicy meatball!
Just in time for the Olympics, too!