5-4-Fighting said:
Personallly, after having seen him play a number of times this year, I find him weak on the puck and in the checking department. He is soft in the corners and avoids heavy traffic.
I don't know what games you've been watching. Try the exact opposite.
The only part of your post that is remotely true is the checking. He doesn't check at all. I mean, he tries...but he's too small to make a difference in that department.
As for the other points, he's the strongest player on the puck on the entire team. He'll skate end to end three or four times a night and can hold onto the puck the entire way with two or three guys on him. I don't see where you're getting that. Same with the corners and traffic. All he does is skate into traffic. That happens when you're the second or third most talented player on the team. Not a tough corner guy but he's not afraid to go there.
I've been to every home game so far this year and have watched most road games on webcast. Hillier is easily the best player on the team. At times it seems as though the puck is superglued to his stick, he pulls sick moves out of nowhere with zero space to do it and he is putting up points. What else can you ask for from a 17 year old coming off extremely limited ice last year?
Ryan Hillier is this year's biggest sleeper pick.