Not sure what you mean by the "he's no sure thing" comment? No one is guaranteed to be a star but it is fairly safe to project that he will be an NHL player within a few years. No one claimed he'd be a star.
He is a super cerebral player - the result of being mentored from day one by his father who was a very smart NHL player in his own right. He is a kid that (since he was drafted) has grown physically by an incredible amount into a 6'5", 205 lb beast already. One of the reasons he was drafted where he was in the third round is because at that time he'd yet to grow into his body, he was gangly, awkward looking, and was probably not strong enough in testing as a result. People in the past also knocked his skating because he looked like a spider on the ice when he was younger, was all arms and legs. This past season he became the only consensus WHL All-Star selection due that he is a responsible player that plays a 200 ft game; you have to be able to skate to accomplish that. You have to be able to skate to become so quickly acclimatized to AHL pro as well. He isn't Bure but his skating isn't really much of an issue, either.
I still think there is a chance we could see him on the Jets at some point next season, in a limited role if he gains 10 or 15 pounds over the summer. There are a ton of expiring contracts at the end of this season and that could present an opportunity for him at camp. There will also be injury call-ups. I suspect what will probably happen though is he'll eventually earn his NHL spot on merit based upon AHL play after some time spent there. I've watched all of his AHL games and he appears a bit tentative right now, but that is also natural when learning a new system on the fly.
This is a kid that plays a very physical game, hits with regularity, forechecks religiously and hard and heavy whenever possible, he also goes to the net and battles for garbage where others won't. Imagine an Andrew Ladd on steroids, but one that battles in the paint much harder. What I see when I watch him play is the sort of player that the current Jets roster is missing in their forward mix, a pure power forward. I hope he does play for the club at some point in the next year and wouldn't bet against him succeeding.
