I don’t remember if it was rookie tournament or preseason, but he was very noticeable…. Would be a nice add for San Jose if he pans out
Rookie tournament, preseason, AHL; he has been noticable everywhere he has been, positively, at both ends of the ice.
4+3 in 6 games and it feels like he hasn't had a game where everything with teammates clicks (especially for such a strong offensive team.) I wouldn't be surprised if he breaks some AHL rookie records as a d+2.
Obviously, it isn't the NHL, and wont be as easy there, but the consistency with which he shuts down transition offense and sends it the other way is wild.
Board battles have been fine. Not exactly special but he is more than capable and approaches it aggressively and has a tenacious attitude.
Only thing you can sort of criticize is net front tie ups, but even that has shown improvement over the first 6 games of the AHL season, and there are NHL defensemen worse than him at that, so it isn't like that will stop him, at all.
If he were drafted in the top half of the first, like the quality of talent he has shown since being drafted, he would already be in the NHL, and as long as he stays healthy, he will probably be the first 2023 dman to play in the NHL at some point this year.