An intelligent, offensively creative playmaker. He has some elusiveness and shiftiness in his feet, but lacks explosiveness in his step or a high-end speed. He does, however, use his smarts and understanding of the game to maintain strong positioning and get to where the puck is going before most. He is a feisty competitor who plays physical despite his lack of strength. He uses his strong vision, quick hands and smooth creativity to generate offensive chances all over the ice. While he does not have a blistering shot, he does find the holes and shoots often. His passes are of the highly skilled nature and they’re timely. He is also smart without the puck, knowing where to go and what to do. He can get out-muscled in puck battles but also wins his fair share due to his smarts and quick stick. He doesn’t wait for the puck to come to him; rather, quickly closes gaps and gets to the puck like a pro. He’s a polarizing draft prospect: Some love his hockey sense and skill while others hate his size and poor skating. (May 2012)