| HISTORY |
|---|
2005-06:
- Produced at exceptional pace as OHL sophomore in Kingston (66-26-64-90, plus-37).
- Led Kingston in scoring and finished 11th in the OHL race.
- CHL's second-highest scoring draft-eligible prospect behind first-rounder Derick Brassard.
- Had an assist in 7-2 win for Team Orr at CHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver.
- Mid-range in Top Prospects skills (24th hardest shot, 87.7 mph; 21st fastest skater, 15.01 s).
- Scored twice in six games as Kingston lost 4-2 to Sudbury in first round of OHL playoffs.
- Represented Canada at world under-18 championship in April, helping team place fourth (7-2-0-2).
- Consensus first-rounder for 2006 draft, ranked 23rd by International Scouting Service.
- Fell to Detroit in second round (41st overall) at draft in Vancouver.
|
2006-07:
- Started OHL season with Kingston on fire (35-24-34-58) before breaking ankle in December.
- Scored twice to lead OHL to 5-0 win over Russia in ADT Canada-Russia Challenge in November.
- Returned from nine-week injury layoff in March and continued to shine late (5-5-3-8).
- Finished minus-13, second worst on a team that went 31-30-5-2, fifth in its 10-team conference.
- Maintained production in five-game first-round playoff loss to Oshawa (5-5-2-7).
- Signed three-year NHL entry-level contract with the Red Wings in April.
- Signed amateur tryout contract and joined the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins for playoffs.
- Appeared in two of seven first-round games and went pointless as Grand Rapids lost to Manitoba.
|
2007-08:
- Represented Canada in the Canada-Russia Under-20 Super Series, playing a depth role (7-0-0-0).
- Appeared in one NHL pre-season game with Detroit before being returned to junior.
- Started season as captain of Kingston and posted good numbers (24-13-18-31).
- Traded at mid-season to Brampton in blockbuster deal for two roster players and five draft picks.
- Named to selection camp for Canada's world junior team, but sent home because of mononucleosis.
- Missed more than a month with mono before debuting with Brampton.
- Endured sluggish second half (30-12-18-30) and admittedly never returned to 100 percent.
- Didn't score in five games as Brampton was knocked out of OHL playoffs by underdog Barrie.
- Signed amateur tryout contract with Grand Rapids and finished season in AHL (7-0-1-1).
- Called up to Detroit to serve as Black Ace (spare who doesn't play) during NHL playoffs.
- Appeared in two exhibition games at Team Canada's training camp for the IIHF world championship.
|
2008-09:
- Made good impression in NHL pre-season with Detroit (6-1-2-3), T7th on the team.
- Survived until the second-to-last round of cuts before being sent to AHL's Grand Rapids.
- Enjoyed productive rookie year (69-10-25-35), T28th among AHL freshmen.
- Used in a variety of roles and particularly good in January (12-4-6-10).
- Production slowed down stretch (11-0-3-3) and in playoffs (9-1-0-1).
|
