He looked really good. He was picking off passes and immediately driving into the middle of the ice into attack mode. I liked the heavier snap in motion as he scored for his group early on in the first game I caught. It’s just a true strength release from a standstill too. I liked his ability to make fakes at the offensive line and attempt to drive past the layer of check. He had to keep his feet moving through pressure though at times he went to a glide earlier than I would have liked as he hoped to protect. I think he showed a lot of elements which will translate to bigger and tougher areas as he threw in some blocked shots and smart pinches too. It’ll be about where he falls into things when it comes to offensive instincts and upside in the end.

It begins with his mobility on the backend as a truly well-balanced and fleet of foot defender. He showed last season he could challenge players early, evade pressure laterally as a puck carrier for zone exits, and show he can be part of the flow of offense off the rush. That mobility and intensity will certainly impress scouts early and often. This season will be about driving offense and how the details of his own offensive creation come to the surface. It appears he already knows how to drift around at the point and open up space laterally for teammates in a cycle or on a PP. There is a lot of potential with this right-shot defender and I’m excited to see him evolve.