Agreed, I don’t think there’s any question the shot and offensive instincts will play so the counting stats will likely come…this is not a guy with a 6% shooting type shot over the long haul.
I’d be more interested from those watching game to game if his all around compete and play away from the puck has been improved. I only saw the first game in Europe (which may have been his worst game of the season) and he again looked like a guy who just wasn’t ready from an all-around standpoint. It would seem he has settled into at least a regular usage role so that seems promising from a “doing the things coaches want even if not on the scoresheet” perspective?