He is a number one defencemen, just not an elite number one defencemen. He was supposed to be unleashed offensivily with Krug leaving, but that didn't happen either.I don't really think he has.
This was suppose to be the year he would be unshackled because of Chara's absence. But I haven't seen that much improvement, even from his rookie year. Needs to make better decisions, much like most 23 year-old defensemen in the NHL.