| HISTORY |
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2002-03:
- Established himself as top 2004 draft prospect with great season (64-16-31-47).
- Won a Memorial Cup with Kitchener (eight points in 21 playoff games).
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2003-04:
- Entered season as sure-fire first-rounder.
- Ranked 15th among North Americans by Central Scouting at mid-season.
- Progress stalled and offensive production (68-15-36-51) didn't increase from rookie year.
- Appeared in CHL top prospects game at mid-season.
- Represented Canada at world under-18 championship (7-1-1-2).
- Attended the Red Wings' prospect development camp in Troy, Mich., in July.
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2004-05:
- Started season with 40 points in 23 games; finished with 47 points in last 45 games.
- Struggled with a painfully sore ankle during second half and in playofs.
- Produced 10 goals and 26 assists for 36 points on the power play.
- Took back seat to Michael Richards in playoffs, but still had 13 points for conference semifinalists.
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2005-06:
- Passed over for Kitchener captaincy and told local paper it was a 'slap in the face.'
- Finished fifth in OHL scoring with Kitchener (67-37-77-114) and appeared in all-star game.
- Left off Canada's gold-medal roster for the world junior championship.
- Ignored in all categories of annual OHL coaches poll.
- Slumped (5-1-3-4) in first round of playoffs as Kitchener stunned by underdog Owen Sound.
- Signed three-year entry-level contract with Detroit.
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2006-07:
- Appeared in three NHL pre-season games with Detroit (3-0-1-1).
- Struggled to produce offence in AHL rookie year with Grand Rapids (59-6-8-14, minus-1).
- Enjoyed two three-point games (Oct. 28, three assists, and April 11, one goal, two assists).
- Spent nine games in ECHL with Toledo at mid-season, lighting it up (9-6-9-15).
- Grand Rapids went 37-32-6-5, grabbing Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
- Held off scoresheet (7-0-0-0) in seven-game first-round playoff loss to Manitoba.
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2007-08:
- Appeared in four NHL exhibition games with Red Wings (4-1-0-1-1).
- Assigned to AHL for second season out of training camp and had sluggish start (48-6-7-13).
- Improved significantly down stretch (30-12-10-22) to finish with 35-point campaign.
- Fired 153 shots on goal and maintained a minus-7 rating.
- Wasn't one of seven minor-leagues recalled to Detroit to serve as "Black Ace" for NHL playoffs.
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2007-08:
- Appeared in two NHL pre-season games but was sent to Grand Rapids (AHL) in first round of cuts.
- Healthy scratch four times early in the season, but the tough stretch served as wake-up call.
- Finally emerged as a top-line contributor, scoring at a 55-point clip (68-17-30-47).
- Finished fourth in team scoring while posting a plus-12 rating and firing 112 shots.
- Season came to premature end on April 4 with a shoulder injury. He missed all 10 playoff games.
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