He is a very aggressive puck rushing defenseman with a high offensive upside. He starts rushes quickly with his high-end skating ability and vision. He has great feet that allow him to pivot and make quick changes of direction, throwing checkers off balance. He has a powerful stride that generates good push, strong acceleration and good transitions from front to back. He has very soft hands and can carry the puck up ice on the rush or push a long, skilled breakout pass up to one of his forwards. He has the ability to see the offensive play developing before most and quickly jumps into the lane or opening. He has some good creativity and can generate scoring chances from the back end with his playmaking skills as well as his slap shot. He does not panic under pressure and makes good decisions with the puck in the offensive zone. He drives down, deep into the offensive zone, and attacks the net — looking for rebounds or a cross-crease pass—then utilizes his feet to get back into defensive position. He has good work ethic and competes hard, game in and game out. He has good size, great skating and offensive potential, making him a very intriguing prospect. (May 2012)