Did he really regress as a player, or was he just playing with no confidence because he was in a terrible situation?
The fact that he played so well in the Jets' rookie tournament, and then the preseason, and then at the start of the AHL season (before injuries and COVID) suggest that maybe he was already pretty good. He was a top 5 forward in the WHL the moment he stepped on the ice...
It's funny you mention his perceived IQ problems, as his vision and passing have been arguably his most impressive attributes. He just flies around setting up teammates all game.
I encourage you to watch his play in Seattle before you write him off.
Here is the highlight reel from his last game. Shows you what I am talking about (a nice backcheck in there as well).
Headquartered in Calgary, Albert, the Western Hockey League (WHL) consists of 22 Member Clubs located throughout Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
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