A smart playmaking winger. Big kid, with a little bit of lumbering to his skating. He has solid technique but isn’t explosive or fast enough to beat defenders wide. A very details-oriented player who plays hard both ways. Has some nice hands which allows him to stickhandle, but can be reluctant to shoot the puck. Passes up prime chances to shoot instead looking to pass first, some of which leads to reduced quality chances or even turnovers. Good in offensive zone puck possession as he is physical, hard to knock off the puck along the wall and down low. Protects the puck well, and when he does shoot it he is dangerous. Has shown very good smarts, does a lot of small detail stuff that help winners win. Smart things to alleviate pressure; supporting his teammates, maintaining strong position and making good reads. Has some injury history that has scouts concerned about durability. (May 2012)