Clarke and OHL Development

Putting aside roster logjams, genuinely curious from anyone who knows about development in the junior leagues how Clarke can improve his defensive game if he returns to the OHL vs. staying with the Kings. Consensus is consistent: amazing offense and holes in defense. He’s very exciting to watch in these rookie games so far, but you can just see him getting burned in the NHL from time to time, like Smyth on Doughty ‘08 style.

Sturm said after Vegas that Clarke was better at offense and needed to improve on defense, and would have to learn how the Kings want him to play.

Reason I ask is more philosophical than anything. I hear about players going back to juniors to work on parts of their game, but that’s not an OHL coach’s prerogative to worry about what NHL teams want out of his players. It’d be impossible to juggle all those directives. And Clarke can’t just self-coach himself down there to being a more complete player. I understand the Kings Development team will be in lots of communication with him, but playing in a system outside the Kings that can only go so far.

If a player has the offensive skill Clarke does, which is possibly NHL ready, how much value is there really in him going back to juniors or is that just burning a year until he truly develops in the AHL 23-24? Or is it better to embrace the offensive gifts and take the lumps defensively in the NHL so he can learn how the Kings want him to play now?