I want to refute my last post about him. To start the season he looked uninterested, lost, slow.
I think he played close attention to what Rattie was doing to be successful on that line and is emulating it well, even if the points aren't coming yet. He looked so unbelievably tenacious on pucks last night that I couldn't believe it was him. He was on 100% effort winning battles along the boards, stealing pucks on the backcheck, etc.
What a game from him, and this is coming from someone who wanted him in the AHL just the game before. Not sure if he can keep that play up, but if he plays like that every game, the success will flow. I was thoroughly impressed.